Okay, so I did make the decision on the giants. Ordered some seeds for more giant pumpkin seeds, also corn, spinach, strawberries and grapes. Most of those should arrive with good timing for planting this year. Others may grow enough to develop a root system but won't produce until next year.
I also ordered seeds for Princess Paulownia trees, which are supposed to be decorative and the fastest growing tree known. Tossed in Jasmine, Blueberry bushes, Hummingbird vines and Red Dwarf Crape Myrtle.
My hope is that planting trees and bushes at varying heights will form a wind break, while flowers attract lots of pollinators. Shading the ground may help reduce temperatures in the immediate area. I'm considering using dwarf trees in various places through the garden in sunken containers to give shade to the garden. The Red Crape Myrtles may be just the ticket for that.
I have been worried that maybe I would apply too much sulfuric acid to the soil and kill everything off. Turns out, that's not so much a worry. Read an old article online about orchard growers using sulfuric acid. And the article was mostly about New Mexico. Seems orchard growers apply the stuff in amounts as high as 1 ton of pure sulfuric acid per acre per year. In some places, even higher amounts. Though, as I suspected, best time to apply high amounts is in fall and winter. Note that pure sulfuric acid is about 95% acid, while automotive sulfuric acid is about 65% acid. So, applying in the amounts I've been using is fairly safe. It does have to be applied each year, though.
After talking about applying sulfuric acid, I thought it wise to include some warnings for anyone who may be thinking of doing this, themselves.
Precautions for Sulfuric Acid Soil Applications (Domestic):
Concentrated sulfuric acid should only be used for places where annuals are planted. It will kill any roots or seeds it contacts directly in high concentration. You can use it for trees and other more permanent plantings but it must be applied at considerable distance, beyond the drip line. Applying too close in strong concentration will kill the plant!
High concentrations are not advised at all for home gardens. It takes special respirators and safety clothing which is devised for acid. Your dust mask or paint respirator will not protect you! The amounts and concentrations I mentioned above is done only by professionals who are specially trained, equipped and licensed for this application!
Sulfuric acid application should only be used for soils which have known problems with sodium or calcium carbonate which is causing alkalinity issues. It should not be used for otherwise healthy soil that just needs a small boost to the acidity.
Sulfuric acid by itself is largely useless. It must have calcium in the soil to act upon. Be sure to have your soil tested or apply calcium (usually carbonate) to the soil before applying acid.
Do not attempt to apply sulfuric acid at any time without doing some serious research before applying it! If you have no experience with handling chemicals, get help from someone who does or forget the idea. You can always apply acetic acid (vinegar) or sulfur, instead.
Never, ever, ever mix water into sulfuric acid. Always mix acid into water and check the pH every few drops! It lowers very quickly! To lower the pH of two gallons of water to a pH of 3.5 from 7.0 takes less than one half ounce of automotive sulfuric acid.
Do not mix other chemicals or fertilizers in with the acid or acid solution. It can violently and instantly boil, fume or explode!
Less intense, more frequent applications are just as or more effective than single, intense applications.
Be sure to wear safety goggles, a mask and nitrile gloves when handling sulfuric acid!
For wide area applications, if you have not handled acidic chemicals, are not comfortable or just not sure, do not try it alone. Do not trust your brother, your cousin or your friend who works at Home Depot to do this or assist you. Do not trust anyone who says safety equipment is not necessary.
You can burn your skin, blind yourself or permanently damage your lungs by handling this the wrong way!!
If even thinking of applying sulfuric acid to your soil, print these warnings and live by them!
I also ordered seeds for Princess Paulownia trees, which are supposed to be decorative and the fastest growing tree known. Tossed in Jasmine, Blueberry bushes, Hummingbird vines and Red Dwarf Crape Myrtle.
My hope is that planting trees and bushes at varying heights will form a wind break, while flowers attract lots of pollinators. Shading the ground may help reduce temperatures in the immediate area. I'm considering using dwarf trees in various places through the garden in sunken containers to give shade to the garden. The Red Crape Myrtles may be just the ticket for that.
I have been worried that maybe I would apply too much sulfuric acid to the soil and kill everything off. Turns out, that's not so much a worry. Read an old article online about orchard growers using sulfuric acid. And the article was mostly about New Mexico. Seems orchard growers apply the stuff in amounts as high as 1 ton of pure sulfuric acid per acre per year. In some places, even higher amounts. Though, as I suspected, best time to apply high amounts is in fall and winter. Note that pure sulfuric acid is about 95% acid, while automotive sulfuric acid is about 65% acid. So, applying in the amounts I've been using is fairly safe. It does have to be applied each year, though.
After talking about applying sulfuric acid, I thought it wise to include some warnings for anyone who may be thinking of doing this, themselves.
Precautions for Sulfuric Acid Soil Applications (Domestic):
Concentrated sulfuric acid should only be used for places where annuals are planted. It will kill any roots or seeds it contacts directly in high concentration. You can use it for trees and other more permanent plantings but it must be applied at considerable distance, beyond the drip line. Applying too close in strong concentration will kill the plant!
High concentrations are not advised at all for home gardens. It takes special respirators and safety clothing which is devised for acid. Your dust mask or paint respirator will not protect you! The amounts and concentrations I mentioned above is done only by professionals who are specially trained, equipped and licensed for this application!
Sulfuric acid application should only be used for soils which have known problems with sodium or calcium carbonate which is causing alkalinity issues. It should not be used for otherwise healthy soil that just needs a small boost to the acidity.
Sulfuric acid by itself is largely useless. It must have calcium in the soil to act upon. Be sure to have your soil tested or apply calcium (usually carbonate) to the soil before applying acid.
Do not attempt to apply sulfuric acid at any time without doing some serious research before applying it! If you have no experience with handling chemicals, get help from someone who does or forget the idea. You can always apply acetic acid (vinegar) or sulfur, instead.
Never, ever, ever mix water into sulfuric acid. Always mix acid into water and check the pH every few drops! It lowers very quickly! To lower the pH of two gallons of water to a pH of 3.5 from 7.0 takes less than one half ounce of automotive sulfuric acid.
Do not mix other chemicals or fertilizers in with the acid or acid solution. It can violently and instantly boil, fume or explode!
Less intense, more frequent applications are just as or more effective than single, intense applications.
Be sure to wear safety goggles, a mask and nitrile gloves when handling sulfuric acid!
For wide area applications, if you have not handled acidic chemicals, are not comfortable or just not sure, do not try it alone. Do not trust your brother, your cousin or your friend who works at Home Depot to do this or assist you. Do not trust anyone who says safety equipment is not necessary.
You can burn your skin, blind yourself or permanently damage your lungs by handling this the wrong way!!
If even thinking of applying sulfuric acid to your soil, print these warnings and live by them!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment