If you have observed that your plants are withering, not growing as they should, or have yellow leaves, your soil may be too acidic. It is quite frustrating when you put a lot of effort into your garden and still have to face such problems. The good thing is that it is easily done by turning the soil more alkaline. By adding natural amendments such as lime or wood ash, you can balance the soil’s pH, which is more favorable for your plants.
Now, let’s talk about soil pH and how you can improve it. Here are the steps that you need to do to it.
What Is Soil pH and How Does It Affect My Garden?
Soil pH, a measure of the soil’s acidity or alkalinity, is shown on the pH scale. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, where 7 is neutral. Anything less than 7 is considered acidic, and higher than 7 is alkaline. Most of the time, plants are happiest in slightly acidic to neutral soils of pH 6.0 to 7.0, while others prefer more alkaline conditions.
Why Does Soil pH Matter?
Soil pH is the main regulator of nutrient availability. When there is too low a pH (acidic), essential nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium are greatly reduced and it would make it difficult for plants to uptake these nutrients. This decrease can result in growth retardation, affect the flowering process, and cause a deficiency in nutrients. By providing the right pH level of your soil, you will see that your plants are absorbing the most nutrients from the soil, which will lead to a healthier growth and a more colorful bloom of the plants.
Signs That Your Soil May Be Acidic
- Yellowing Leaves: A classic indicator of acid soil is the yellowing of leaves (chlorosis).
- Stunted Growth: Such plants usually won’t grow to their best potential.
- Reduced Flowering or Fruit Production: Acidic soil can stop the blooming process of flowers and fruit formation.
- Poor Soil Structure: Acidic soils mostly have poor drainage and aeration.
You can identify whether your soil is acidic if you are facing these above symptoms. Then it is best to check your soil pH and think of making it more alkaline.
How to Test Your Soil pH
Perform a soil pH test prior to attempting any alterations as the foundation of the entire scenario is the pH of the soil. In doing so, you can either opt for an at-home soil pH test kit or you can send a soil sample to a local agricultural extension office.
DIY pH Testing Kits
DIY kits enable you to immediately and easily get an overview of the soil pH levels by yourself. Typically, such kits consist of mixing a little soil with water and putting a reagent that changes its color depending on the pH level. However, make sure that you test the soil in different areas of your garden as well since the pH of the soil can be different from one area of the garden to the other.
Professional Soil Testing
You can also gain more precision by sending a soil sample to a lab. For example- the agricultural extension offices of many counties offer this service for a modest price. Lab results also come with information about the nutrient content of soil and the pH in your garden enabling you to perform better-amended changes.
How To Make Soil More Acidic [Simple Methods]
When it becomes clear that the soil in your garden is too acidic, then that is the time that you can decide to work on it. Here are some natural and effective techniques that you can put to good use in order to grow your soil’s pH and thus make it more alkaline for your plants.
1. Add Agricultural Lime
One of the simplest ways to alkalize the soil is by the addition of lime. This lime is obtained from the crushing of limestone, which is a mineral that contains a lot of calcium carbonate. The rise in the pH of the soil happens as a result of this reaction.
How to Apply Lime:
- Determine the Amount: The lime quantity required depends on the present pH of your soil and the pH that you intend to attain. Most of the gardening retailers present you this information based on your soil test results.
- Apply Evenly: Lime should be sprayed on the soil surface, evenly by hand or with a spreader.
- Work it into the Soil: Use a rake or tiller to integrate the lime into the top 6 inches of soil, as the preferred depth, ensures top results.
Be patient and give the adjustment some time to be fully realized, since lime might take several months to produce the desired result. Also, you need to check your soil for retesting purposes to be sure that the process is going well.
2. Use Wood Ash
Wood ash is an alkaline substance that is produced when we burn wood. As with dolomite, it has a high amount of calcium and lime base products. Potassium Carbonate is found in Wood Ash and is used for neutralizing highly acidic soils.
Applying Wood Ash:
- Use Moderately: When using wood ash as a pH adjuster, do not apply as much as 10 times more than lime.
- Even Application: Apply the lime evenly over the soil surface without disturbing the plants, just like you would with the ash.
- Avoid Overuse: The main disadvantage of overusing lime is that the magnetization of the soil may cause the appearance of chlorosis, due to plants’ inability to absorb iron. Over-application can lead to the raising of pH, thus creating a variable soil environment, which represents a risk factor to the plants.
3. Add Crushed Eggshells
Eggs come from hens, and as a result, looking at a part of a chicken. Slow does not mean fast; therefore, eggshells, which are made of calcium carbonate from limestone, a natural product of the process limestones move much more snappily. Regardless of their slower pace, all calcium-based compounds, such as dolomite or garden lime, need days to weeks to produce the desired effects.
How to Use Eggshells:
- Crush Thoroughly: Rinse carefully and let eggshells dry completely, then crumble them into fine particles using a machine.
- Incorporate into Soil: Summer is close to incubation, and as the temperature rises in the bucket, the eggshells will go through the mold stage and the mold will eventually be invisible when they have totally decomposed.
The problem is that eggshells usually break down very slowly, so the best option is to use the method for a protracted time, upon which you give them the opportunity to adjust pH slightly by slightly.
4. Avoid Acidic Amendments
If maintaining basic soil is your priority, you must refuse to add the acidic materials. Organic matter, manure, and some types of fertilizers (e.g. sulfur sulfur-containing products) are among the soil pH-reducing agents, which change over time. So, choose composts that don’t have a pH that is too high and never apply acidifying fertilizers in excess.
5. Plant Alkaline-Loving Plants
Some natural species of plants find alkaline soil more supportive to live in. If you struggle with the right pH, move towards those plants that love alkaline conditions. These are the Examples:
- Lavender
- Lilacs
- Holly
- Clematis
- Salvia
Through the cultivation of related species, e.g. the ones that appreciate alkaline soil, you at the same time cooperate with the area’s nature rather than antagonize it.
Monitoring Soil pH Over Time
Upon correction of your soil, it is essential to check the pH regularly. Rainfalls, organic materials’ decomposition, and fertilization are examples of the factors that might change the pH. Regular testing every 6 to 12 months will allow you to observe any changes in your soil and keep the right balance for your plants. Do not forget to adjust the pH according to the soil amendment used during correction.
Tips for Long-Term Soil Health:
- Mulch with Organic Matter: Even though some organic matter is acidic, mulches that are neither acidic nor basic, such as straw or wood chips can help to maintain the pH level at a balanced state.
- Use pH-Neutral Fertilizers: Select the fertilizers that do not greatly change the pH of the soil.
- Water Wisely: Acidic or alkaline water can be a contributing factor to your soil becoming acidic or basic. To confirm this, consider testing your water in the case of recurrent problems.
Conclusion
Making your soil more alkaline is not a complex procedure which has been made clear. The bettering of the soil’s pH and the making of a friendlier environment for plants can be attained by using natural amendments such as lime, wood ash, or eggshells. However, do not forget to check your soil every once in a while and avoid applying too much of them. Taking proper care of your garden, it will burst out in time.
If you want your soil to become more acidic, you can use sulfur or aluminum sulfate instead of that to trim the pH levels down. Becoming familiar with the method of adding stronger acid to the soil will shorten the pathway to the results of techniques such as the one for blueberries.
