You might be confused about whether to use barn lime or garden lime to make your soil better. Both of these soil amendments can raise pH levels and add important nutrients, but there are some big differences between them. There are two types of lime: barn lime and garden lime. This article will help you choose which one is best for you.
What is Barn Lime?
Barn lime, also known as agricultural lime or aglime, is a coarse, crushed limestone product used for agricultural purposes It is comprised of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate and has a gritty, crumbly texture
Barn lime is commonly used for
- Neutralizing acidic soils and raising pH levels in fields and large gardens
- Providing essential calcium and magnesium to crops
- Drying out wet barn floors and animal enclosures to control odors and bacteria
- Serving as an absorbent bedding material in livestock stalls
Due to its large particle size and lower calcium content, barn lime is less effective at adjusting soil pH in small home gardens. It requires very high application rates to impact acidity. The coarse texture also makes it difficult to spread evenly over a limited area.
What is Garden Lime?
Garden lime has a much finer, powdery texture that allows it to break down quickly in the soil. There are two main types of garden lime:
Dolomite Lime – Made up of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. It has a slightly higher magnesium content than barn lime.
Calcitic Lime – Mostly pure calcium carbonate with very little magnesium.
Garden lime is commonly used for:
- Raising pH in acidic garden and lawn soils
- Providing essential calcium and magnesium nutrients
- Improving soil structure and nutrient availability
- Neutralizing soil toxicity caused by high levels of metals like aluminum
The fine texture and higher calcium content make garden lime ideal for small-scale use in home gardens and lawns. It can precisely adjust pH without over-application.
Key Differences Between Barn Lime and Garden Lime
Particle Size – Garden lime is a very fine powder. Barn lime particles are coarser.
Calcium Carbonate Content – Garden lime has a higher concentration of calcium carbonate.
Soil Amendment Power—Garden lime raises the pH of acidic soils very well. Barn lime requires high rates to impact acidity.
Application Method – Garden lime can be spread by hand or with a small spreader. Barn lime needs mechanical application.
Cost – Barn lime is cheaper per pound. But more garden lime is needed to achieve results.
Availability – Garden lime is sold bagged. Barn lime is purchased in bulk.
When to Use Barn Lime
Barn lime is best suited for:
- Large farms, fields, orchards, and properties
- Correcting severely acidic agricultural soils that need dramatic pH changes
- Wet barns, stalls, and animal enclosures
- Commercial livestock bedding and absorbents
It provides an affordable way to neutralize soils over a vast area when applied at high rates with mechanical equipment. The coarse texture also makes it useful for soaking up moisture in wet animal environments.
When to Use Garden Lime
Garden lime is ideal for:
- Small vegetable and flower gardens
- Landscaping beds
- Lawns
- Containers
- Individual trees
It allows precise pH adjustment and nutrient delivery. The fine texture also lets you spread it evenly by hand or with a push spreader. Garden lime can be bought at local garden centers in handy bags.
Application Rates
Always follow manufacturer’s recommended application rates carefully. As a general rule:
- Barn lime application rates range from 1 to 5 tons per acre
- Garden lime rates are around 5 to 20 lbs per 100 sq ft
Too much lime can damage plants, so moderation is key. Test soil regularly and only apply lime when needed to maintain proper pH levels.
Using Lime to Optimize Soil Quality
With regular pH testing and careful application of the right type of lime, you can create an optimal soil environment for your plants to thrive.
Here are some tips for success with liming:
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Test soil pH at least once per year using an at-home test kit or professional lab analysis. This will determine if lime is needed and in what amounts.
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Choose garden lime for small gardens and lawns; use barn lime on larger properties. Match the lime to the scale of your application area.
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Till or work lime into the top 2-6 inches of soil for fastest reactivity.
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When using powdered lime, avoid drift onto plant leaves to prevent leaf burn.
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Pelletized lime is easier to spread evenly without dust issues.
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Re-test soil 4-6 weeks after liming to see if pH is in the ideal 6.2 to 6.8 range.
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Never apply more than 50 lbs of lime per 1000 sq ft at one time. Split heavy doses into smaller, periodic applications.
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Plan to lime in the fall every 1-2 years for gardens and every 3-5 years for lawns.
The Takeaway
Barn lime and garden lime share some similarities, but have distinct differences that make each one better for certain applications. Barn lime is an affordable agricultural liming agent for large areas. Garden lime allows precise pH control in small home gardens.
Choosing the right type of lime and using it properly will keep your soil in top condition for healthy, thriving plants. Test soil regularly, apply appropriate amounts based on soil analysis results, and lime as needed to maintain ideal pH.
Bedding Choices for Livestock Stalls
Livestock stall floors have three construction components. First is the subsurface or base support. Today, all barn designs have topsoil removed, regardless of whether they have porous or impervious beds. When organic topsoil is left alone, it breaks down and becomes a mess. It also poses serious health risks because it lets weeds grow and bugs breed. Barn builders remove all natural organic material and then build up an inert base.
Next, builders lay a top surface. It might be cast concrete or pavement for impervious stall floors, or it might be some porous material like sand, gravel or crushed limestone. Other materials are available as well, such as wood planks, rubber pavers and polypropylene mats. However, due to budget and maintenance issues, these alternatives are not commonly used.
This completes the main floor base, but whether the floor base is solid or free-draining, all stalls still require some form of bedding material. Softer top dressings serve several purposes. One is adding a spongy layer that the animal can comfortably stand on or lie down in. Another reason for using top bedding is waste management. Liquid urine and solid feces or manure need strict control.
Good stall bedding has five characteristics: It must provide comfort, control moisture, stay clean, be inert and have the proper particle size. Crushed limestone does an excellent job of delivering a semi-solid base that drains urine and allows easy manure muck-out. However, limestone for livestock stalls still needs some sort of surface bedding. The following are the options or choices to use as livestock bedding material:
- Straw: Most people who raise animals use straw as their main material. Straw is made from small grains like wheat and barley. It’s the unpleasant stocks and sheaths that are left over after harvesting grains. Straw is soft, soaks up liquids well, and doesn’t stick to animal fur. It’s also cheap and readily available.
- Hay: Hay is a second choice next to organic straw. There are whole pieces of organic matter that taste good and are usually used to feed animals. Only poor-grade hay gets placed as stall bedding. It’s soft, keeps water away, and works well on the floor. On the other hand, hay has seeds in it that grow and cause problems with pests and weeds.
- Wood shavings: shavings are one of the best things to use for stall bedding. Sawmills produce shavings in the kiln-dried lumber planning process. Shavings are mid-sized and manage well on stall floors. They are very clean and soft, which makes them perfect for covering crushed limestone floors. Unfortunately, shavings are in high demand and can be costly.
- Wood Chips: Wood chips are another good way to add cushioning and keep liquids in check. Chips are made during debarking of raw logs. They still have some of their original moisture and haven’t been dried in a machine like shavings have. Chips add water to a wet area, which makes rot and mold grow quickly. Chips also have oils in the bark that can stain an animal’s fur.
- Sawdust: Sawdust is cheap and easy to find, but it’s not a good material for bedding animals. Sawdust particles are too fine. This material clumps together when it gets wet and holds on to water instead of letting it drain away. Sawdust also sticks to the fur of animals, making it hard to groom them. Sawdust stays on the udders of dairy and nursing cows, which is very bad for their health.
- Sand: Like sawdust, sand is too fine to be useful. Even though sand is cheap and easy to find, it’s hard to keep up. It tracks when wet and blows when dry. Sand does have one clear benefit, though: it’s soft and easy on hooves and hides.
- Clay is often used for the bottom layers of a foundation. Clay is found naturally in most of the country and is almost always free. Left undisturbed, clay bases are exceptionally stable. But clay that is loose and wet turns into a soupy mess that sticks to animal hooves like wet socks. Pure clay also has no percolation and traps water. Builders of barns sometimes mix clay and sand to make the particles bigger and improve drainage.
- Limestone dust: The best base material for a livestock stall is crushed limestone screened through a size 10 mesh. That size of crushing and screening is just right to let the particles pack down while still being porous enough to let water drain away.
- Other materials: Barn keepers can be very creative when they look for things to put on stall beds. Availability and affordability are key factors in sourcing bedding material. Hemp is an interesting material as a straw substitute. It’ll be more available as the American hemp industry expands. Many owners make their beds out of newspaper and other recycled paper products. Some even add corn stubble, peanut hulls and tobacco stems.
Crushed Limestone Is Ideal for Livestock Stalls
Dolomite lime powder is great for all kinds of plant farming, and solid hydrating limestone is great for building. Both serve their purposes and have tremendous demand. However, there’s a medium between powdered limestone and massive chunks. It’s called crushed limestone, and it comes in various screening sizes. 10 Mesh limestone crush is the one used in livestock stalls.
Can you use Lime in Your Barn? First Saturday Lime First Impressions {Barn Cleanout}
FAQ
Can barn lime be used for gardens?
Barn lime is often sold to get rid of smells and keep stalls dry in horse stables or to improve garden soil. Mar 2, 2023.
What is the difference between lime and garden lime?
Lime is a soil amendment made by grinding limestone, a naturally occurring type of rock that is very high in calcium. Two types of lime are commonly used in lawns and gardens, agricultural lime and dolomitic lime. Agricultural lime, also sold as garden lime, is made from calcium carbonate.
Is barn lime the same as First Saturday Lime?
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Composition:Both First Saturday Lime and barn lime primarily contain calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
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Processing:First Saturday Lime undergoes a process that concentrates and strengthens it, making it more effective as an insect deterrent and odor absorber. Barn lime is typically just ground limestone, with varying levels of purity.
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Purpose:Barn lime is often used for soil amendment, moisture control, and odor control in stables or barns. First Saturday Lime is specifically formulated for pest control, odor reduction, and moisture management in areas like chicken coops and stables.
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Safety:Barn lime is considered safe and non-toxic. First Saturday Lime is also designed to be safe for use around animals and people.
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Effectiveness:First Saturday Lime is considered more effective as a pest control agent and odor absorber compared to barn lime, which can have limitations in wet environments and may not neutralize odors as effectively.
Can I use barn lime in my chicken coop?
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Moisture control:Barn lime helps absorb moisture, keeping the coop drier, which is beneficial for chicken health and reduces the risk of fungal growth.
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Odour control:It helps neutralize odors, creating a cleaner and more pleasant environment.
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Pest deterrence:While not as effective as FS lime, it can still help deter some pests like mites, lice, and flies due to its alkaline nature.
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Antibacterial properties:It can help eliminate harmful bacteria.
What is the difference between garden lime and barn lime?
Soil-improving power: garden lime raises the pH of soil well, but barn lime needs very high rates to have an effect on acidity. Application methods – Garden lime can be spread by hand or with push/handheld spreaders; barn lime requires mechanical spreaders. Cost – Barn lime is cheaper per pound than bagged garden lime products.
What is the difference between bagged and barn lime?
Cost – Barn lime is cheaper per pound than bagged garden lime products. But more garden lime is required to achieve results. Availability – Bagged garden lime is sold at garden centers and hardware stores; barn lime is purchased in bulk agriculturally. Always match the lime type to the intended use:
What is the difference between garden lime and agricultural lime?
Garden lime and agricultural lime refer to the same soil amendment made of calcium carbonate. They are both used to increase the soil pH level, making it more alkaline. The main difference lies in their application rates and methods. Hydrated lime, on the other hand, is a calcium hydroxide compound that acts faster and is more effective.
Does barn lime help in the growth of gardens?
Barn lime can help maintain a good soil pH and contribute to the growth of gardens when applied properly and under the right circumstances. Your soil’s quality is important when growing or establishing a healthy garden. There is an assortment of products available, including lime, fertilizers, and pesticides.
What is barn lime?
Barn lime, also known as hydrated lime, is a popular choice for farmers and gardeners alike. When calcium oxide and water are mixed, a fine white powder that is easy to spread is made. Barn lime is highly alkaline and has a pH of around 12, making it an effective way to raise the pH of acidic soil.
What is the main component of barn lime?
Barn lime, also known as quarry lime, ag lime, dairy lime or garden lime, is primarily made of calcium carbonate, or ground limestone.