Many gardeners have been asking how to add magnesium to soil without much success. The answer depends on the soil, texture, pH level, and preexisting magnesium levels. You can get an accurate estimate by testing your soil before you start amending it. Never add soil amendments to living plants without testing them first. Moreover, they can be harmful if used too much or not in the right amounts. Read on to discover how to add magnesium to soil.
Epsom salt
If you’re growing a vegetable garden, one cheap and easy way to boost magnesium levels is by adding Epsom salt to your soil. It’s a very effective fertilizer and plants love it. Sprinkle it on your plants’ leaves or plant seedlings to get the most out of your vegetable garden. Tomatoes and peppers, especially, benefit from magnesium. Then, use other fertilizers as necessary to help your plants grow well.
This natural product works well to kill weeds and strengthen plants. While it’s not a plant fertilizer, a sprinkle of Epsom salt around the soil and base of your plants will deter small pests, and it will prevent the growth of other pests as well. The best way to know whether your plants have too much magnesium is to observe their leaves. If they start to yellow, they’re suffering from magnesium deficiency.
Besides adding magnesium to your soil, Epsom salts have other uses as well. In addition to pest control, it has other beneficial effects. When applied to the soil, Epsom salts will help control slugs and increase the growth of your plants. For example, you can sprinkle a cup of Epsom salt on a pepper plant to increase its production. The salts will also improve the color of your plant’s leaves. When you water your plants, you can apply them to the soil with water for a week or two. You can use this solution as a pre-planting soak, or mix a tablespoon of Epsom salt with a gallon of water.
Dolomitic lime
Dolomitic lime is an excellent choice for adding magnesium and calcium to your soil. Depending on your soil type, dolomite lime will raise the pH to 6.5 or 7.0, which is the ideal range for plant growth. Make sure to read the package label carefully before adding it to your soil, as too much lime can be harmful for your plants. You can purchase dolomite lime at a number of retailers, such as Down to Earth. A study by Michigan State University Extension suggests that you add dolomitic lime to your garden’s soil once every three to six months.
When adding dolomite lime, make sure you test the soil first to determine the ideal amount to add. Soil with low levels of magnesium should be amended with dolomite lime, while soil with acceptable levels will need garden lime. Lime recommendations are usually expressed in pounds per thousand square feet of soil. For maximum results, apply dolomitic lime in the fall and wait until spring to plant your plants.
Dolomite lime also helps balance pH levels. Plants prefer soil that is neutral to acidic. Dolomite can raise the pH of soil in the garden by adding magnesium to it. It can also prevent blossom end rot in peppers and tomatoes. It should be mixed with the soil and added in one to two tablespoons per gallon. Besides providing magnesium to the soil, it also helps control pH levels.
Sul-Po-Mag
Sul-Po-Mag is a natural, organically-derived supplement that provides plants with an abundance of magnesium, potassium, and sulfur. This plant-food will not change the pH of the soil. In addition to providing essential nutrients, Sul-Po-Mag is organically-approved for use in organic crop production in Canada. To learn more, read on! We’ll cover why Sul-Po-Mag is the best choice for organic gardening.
Sul-Po-Mag is also available at garden supply stores in the form of dolomitic lime, which is composed of magnesium and calcium. If your soil has a low pH, this would be an excellent solution. On the other hand, Sul-Po-Mag is a great way to add magnesium to your soil while improving its pH. The magnesium sulfate in Sul-Po-Mag is easy to apply to plants by applying it to the leaves of the plants.
Too much magnesium in the soil can cause deficiencies of other nutrients such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and trace elements. It also reduces the water content of the soil. If you are adding Sul-Po-Mag to your soil, you need to know its concentration in your soil. If it’s too high, it may deplete other essential nutrients and reduce your soil’s ability to grow crops. However, this problem will not become evident for up to three years, so it’s important to be cautious when applying lime to your soil.
