Stone retaining wall mortar mix lime ?

[Perki6]

Hi just want some opinions on a stone wall I am building in the front garden. I am getting a bit confused if I should be using lime in my mortar mix ? Its just going to be a flower bed on top . The wall will be 3ft high by 16inch wide
I am using 4.5 red builders sand to 1 cement which I think has been used on the other section of wall I am joining to, I 've put a weeping pipe in for drainage and will be back filling around the back of the wall with rubble to aid drainage . Stone is some Yorkshire stone I suspect which is a tad soft compared to the rock hard local stone.

Thanks

 

[Wayners]

I don't know the answer however.
This recent video may help

 

[^woody^]

You can use lime as a plasticiser, but no need to use lime mortar.

For a cement mortar, no stronger than 4:1

It's often advantageous to use either a sharp sand, or part sharp sand mix to toughen the mortar to compensate for a weaker mix. Sharp sand also removes the brown shade of red building sand, and this can look better with stone.

 

[Perki6]

Thanks for the advice

 

[opps]

It's often advantageous to use either a sharp sand, or part sharp sand mix to toughen the mortar to compensate for a weaker mix. Sharp sand also removes the brown shade of red building sand, and this can look better with stone.

Or you can use white cement with the grey cement.

One of my besties is a pointer. He has been doing it for years.

He can look at a job and say "yeah, 1 white cement to 3 parts of grey cement". Additionally he will source the sand as required.

His work is stunning, particularly his weather struck pointing.

He only uses lime if it is specified by the customer.

On red rubber bricks, it leaves a lot of smudges which need to be removed with brick acid, unfortunately the acid will make the mortar slightly darker.