Lime Sulfur

A combination of hydrate lime (CaO) mixed with sulfur. Lime sulfur is extremely water soluble, but incompatible with other pesticides due to it's alkaline reaction when diluted with water. It should be used by itself.

Lime sulfur can be made by combining 20 pounds of rock lime and 15 pounds of flowers of sulfur with 50 gallons of water. Place in a large iron kettle or boiler outside (this stuff smells!) and boil for one hour. Allow to cool and settle. The clear, amber fluid remaining after filtering is lime sulfur. It's probably cheaper and easier to purchase a prepared product.

Lime sulfur can cause severe phytotoxic reaction (plant injury and death) when used at temperatures higher than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lime sulfur should be avoided on sulfur sensitive plants when leafed out such as grapes, apple, pear, blueberry, currants, gooseberry, apricot, brambles and vine crops. Damage include scorching, dwarfing of leaves, premature defoliation and reduced yields.

Lime sulfur is used as a dormant spray only.