Powdered concrete for lime. Yeay or nay?

[doofaloofa]

Any one used powdered concrete as a lime substitute?

As a fairly common waste product of building/renovating it would be a handy to be able to use it on the garden

Experiance/opinions?

[diggernotdreamer]

I would say not. Concrete has all sorts of things added and is potentially toxic, lime on the other hand is a purer product. I have never heard of anyone putting concrete on the garden, not that I have ever used lime either.

[marshlander]

Agricultural/garden Lime and Hydrated Builders Lime are different. Builders lime can also be used but you need much less and be careful as hydrated lime is caustic! Here's a link to tech advice from the RHS http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/pro ... px?pid=144

Have heard of concrete rubble being used for hardcore or to make new concrete and made raised beds myself many years back from broken paving slabs.

[GeorgeSalt]

I wouldn't be worried about too many nasties from concrete, it's an inert material and that's what the problem is. It's just going to sit there, relatively unchanged over a very long period of time. It's a replacement for general aggregate (eg. gravel) but won't have the alkaline benefits of lime for soil application.

[doofaloofa]

Nay then

Thanks

[Skippy]

I'd say not really either and would agree it would most likey be almost completely inert , however would add that if you or anyone did choose to use it to be careful handling it and werar a mask at the very least. Powdered concrete is likey to contain very small pieces of quartz which can cause all sorts of breathing related problems such as silicosis.


Pete