How A Simple Adjustment To Soil pH Can Produce Visible New Growth Almost Overnight Even In Plants You Believed Were Dead And Gone

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What is Soil pH

The pH scale is used to judge how acidic or alkaline substances are. The scale runs from 0 to 14, under 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, then over 7 is alkaline. With soil, the is important for several reasons. One is how nutrients are released.

Another reason is that different plants require different soil pH levels. Some plants grow better in alkaline soils while other prefer a more acidic soil. Let's look closer at this and learn more about it.

How pH levels affect the soil.

pH levels in the soil do affect how efficiently nutrients are distributed throughout the soil. Soil that is right for planting is usually rich in nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

Now for these nutrients to be released properly soil has to be at certain levels. 5.5 or higher on the pH scale and the Nitrogen is released to the plants.

But the Phosphorus needs the soil to be between 6 and 7 on the pH scale to be released. And if the soil is highly acidic, none of the nutrients can function correctly.

Plants vary in pH level they need in the soil.

All plants do not require the same soil pH. So you need to adjust your soil according to each plant you have. To help you here are some plants and there desired pH levels:

Azaleas like a range of 4.5 to 6.0.

Hibiscus prefers it higher at 6.0 to 8.0.

Hydrangeas like it 4.5 to 5.0 to turn blue and 6.0 to 7.0 to turn pink.

Lilacs prefers a pH at 6.0 to 7.5.

Tea roses actually likes the soil at 5.5 to 7.0

Elm trees grow best with a level at 6.0 to 7.5

Day Lilies like the soil being at 6.0 to 8.0.

Marigolds prefer the soil at 6.0 to 7.5.

Tulips like 6.0 to 8.0.

Verbena prefers a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.

Adding sulfur to too acid of soil will make it more alkaline along with other things you can find. If you need to make the soil more acid, you can add Ammonium Sulfate if you need it real acidic, and Ammonium Nitrate for acid but not to the extreme.

You can find lists online that show you how different additives and fertilizers affect the pH of the soil.

Also adding organic matter can change the pH favorably in the direction you need. Rain can also affect the pH of the soil.

So keep all this in mind as you are trying to grow your gardens, bushes, or trees and you will have healthier plants in the long run. You will get more flowers too off your flowering plants.

Knowing what the soil pH is for each of your plants helps you better know how to take care of them. Also, you can group your plants correctly according to their soil pH.

All the plants that need high acidic soil should be placed away from the plants that need more alkaline soil. This allows you to fertilize all your plants correctly. Happy gardening to you!

Basically, pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline soil is.

A pH scale runs between 0-14. Below 7 is considered acidic, above 7 is alkaline.

pH levels determine how effectively nutrients are spread throughout the soil.

Different kinds of plants require different pH levels for optimal growth and use of fertilizer.

pH can be adjusted by tilling additives to the gardening area.

Determine the ideal pH range for new plants purchased. Adjust the soil before replanting them.

Luster Leaf #1840 Soil PH Meter Use probe to instantly test your soil for acid or alkaline. Then use information included to find which plants are best suited for your soil and how to alter the soil conditions. Also included is a plant care booklet which lists over 400 pH levels.