Using limestone around plants, tree's, shrubs and in the garden

Hi, I work in a limestone quarry and can get limestone at next to nothing, if I put it around things I want to grow in my garden will it have any effect on them? can it be used for controling weedy areas to stop weeds coming through, I can get a range of sizes from 10mm all way up to big heavy lumps of it, also can you give me some ideas as to what I can do with it to make it look nice? and please tell me what not to do with it!

Regards Keith

 

If you try to stop weeds growing is a lost battle , unless you use carpet on the floor and cover up with stone , if you can get lots of lime stone why don`t you give a go to a rockery garden ? or a stone paths even if i think is too soft as a stone.

 

You lucky Gardener you

Limestone is brill for veg gardening, it raises the Ph of the soil which is good for most veg. Don't lime where you put potatoes though, not that it will do the plants any harm, it just encourages potato scab.

I used to work in a Slate Quarry, but that didn't do my garden any good

Which quarry are you in?

 

I am based at whitwell in Derbyshire near Worksop

 

So that would be carboniferous limestone? The stuff used for railway balast?

 

Yes, also it goes into concrete

 

We have a path covered with limestone chippings at work . Someone had planted daffs and bluebells along the path . They come up every year and are the healthiest daffs / bluebells I have ever seen . Could a limestone mulch be beneficial

 

Oh yes Harry, lots of plants love an alkaline soil.