The ideal pH range for most plants is 7, which is considered neutral.
Readings over 7 or 7.5 indicate alkalinity.
Acidic soil can be helpful in the garden when you have plants that prefer it.
Minuet mountain laurels like acidic soils.David Beaulieu
Fact
In nature, acidic soil is the norm in many places, including most wooded areas.
Toxic elements such as aluminum and manganese will impact a plant’s health more under acidic conditions.
Additionally, acidic soil may prevent beneficial organisms from recycling much-needed nutrients such as nitrogen.
What Causes Acidic Soil?
Many gardeners assume pine needles or oak leaves acidify the soil more than other mulches.
Test kits are available at most home improvement stores and many garden centers.
How to Make Soil More or Less Acidic
Soil can be made more or less acidic.
It’s important to check your soil pH regularly because it takes time for the levels to change.
In doing so, you lower the soil’s pH.
Lowering Soil Acidity
By contrast, plants that like sweet soil may perform poorly in acidic soils.
Farmers have been sweetening acidic soils for years with lime.
Lime is the white powder that you may see spread out over a patch of agricultural land.
You will begin seeing results throughout the next growing season.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Causes and Effects of Soil Acidity.Oklahoma State University Extension.
