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Fast Facts
What Is Soil pH?
The abbreviation “pH” stands for “potential hydrogen and indicates the concentration of hydrogen in the soil.
The higher the amount of hydrogen in the soil, the lower the soil pH.
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The scale ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline).
It’s rare to see extreme readings at either end of the scale in garden soils.
A reading of 7 is considered neutral.
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The best pH for most soils or the most common is around 6.5.
Why Is Soil pH Important to the Garden?
Most nutrients are more soluble in slightly acidic soils than in neutral or slightly alkaline soils.
Blueberries are acid-loving plantsYelenaYemchuk / Getty Images
The golden in-between for most plants to thrive is a pH range of 6 to 7.
With this measurement, nutrients are the most available.
Keeping the soil pH balanced is just as important as adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
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However, there is no one-fits-all pH for all plants.
If the soil pH is a mismatch,acid-lovingplants andplants that require alkaline soilwill do poorly.
What Determines Soil pH?
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Several factors impact soil pH.
In addition to climate and rainfall, there are also manmade factors that impact the soil pH.
One of them is over-liming when, to raise an acidic soil pH, too muchgarden limehas been applied.
Accumulated leaves and pine needles from trees and other decaying organic matter also lower the soil pH.
you’ve got the option to get your soil tested through yourlocal county extension office.
It is even possible toconduct a test using only household materials.
Garden lime consists of finely ground white limestone and it is sold by the bag at garden centers.
After you test your soil in the fall, apply lime immediately if the results call for it.
How to Lower Soil pH
Lowering soil pH is easierthan raising it.
There are different amendments: sulfur, iron sulfate, aluminum sulfate, or ammonium sulfate.
Soil pH and the Availabilit of Plant Nutrients.Nutrient Stewardship.
Soil pH: What It Means.
State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
