Lime Haters
The classic Old Husband’s Tale is that azaleas and camellias hate lime.
This is not true. This myth comes from England where many of the soils are alkaline – that is, full of lime. So in England (or the Mediterranean for that matter) you don’t add lime around camellias and azaleas.
In Australia however, most of our soils are acidic and a small amount of lime around azaleas and camellias does them good. All azaleas and camellia potting mixes in Australia do, in fact, contain lime.
If you live in an alkaline soil area, don’t use even more lime near azaleas and camellias. Alkaline soil areas are where you have limestone as the local rock type. Around Perth, many areas in South Australia – and the wine growing areas in general.
Liming lawns every 5 years or so is good as lawn foods make lawn soils acidic over time.
Hooroo! Don.
