Liming to Reinvigorate Cherry, Peach, Plum Trees

Sometimes it’s almost impossible to figure out what is causing an ornamental or edible fruit tree to decline.

But you want to do something….anything…to help the tree. Here’s what you can do: raise the oil pH by adding lime.

I once heard a UGA fruit tree pathologist brag that the dozen healthy peach trees that were growing behind his building had, at one time, come in as disease specimens from all over the state. After diagnosing the problem, he planted the trees while sprinkling 1/4 cup of garden lime onto the soil as he planted. He also did a yearly soil test to make sure the soil pH was 7.0, not the 5.5 of the surrounding soil.

Well, the proof was in the pudding…or in the peach ice cream the staff made every  Friday in summer.

It can take years for soil pH to rise due to lime being added on top of the soil after planting but it will surely come about if you’re consistent about checking soil pH.

That’s why it’s so much better to check pH and add lime to the wider garden area for a few years before you plant.

Here’s how to have a soil test done”