Garden Soil Preparation
Author: David Selman, Tracker-Outdoors.com
Different types of plants each require varying degrees of soil
acidity or pH. Some plants are very sensitive to soil pH levels.
Some garden plants will prefer acid soils while others prefer an
alkaline soil. The acidity or alkalinity of soil is measured by
pH (potential Hydrogen ions). pH is a measure of the amount of
lime (calcium) contained in your soil, and the type of soil that
you have.
Soils in moist climates tend to be acid and those in
dry climates are alkaline. A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an
acid soil and one with a pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline.
The
soil must be adjusted to suit the plant which will occupy that
area if it is not already within that plants requirement
range.Testing Your Soil pH Many garden centers will pH test a
soil sample for you, or you can buy an inexpensive pH test kit
at a nursery, or hardware stores. These test kits generally
consist of a test tube, some testing solution and a color chart.
You put a sample of your soil in the tube, add a few drops of
test solution, shake it up and leave it for an hour or so to
settle. The solution in the tube changes color according to the
pH of your soil. Compare the color of the sample with the color
chart that came with the kit. Matching colors will tell you the
pH of your sample.
Quality pH test kits will have a chart to
help interpret the test result.Adjusting Your Soil pH Levels
Once you have determined the pH you can make any needed
adjustments to the soil. Materials to adjust your soil pH levels
are available at your local garden center.Raising The Soil pH To
Make It More Alkaline It is generally easier to make soils more
alkaline than it is to make them more acid.
Because different
soil types react in different ways to the application of lime
you will have to add more lime to clay soils and peaty soils
than you will in sandy soils to achieve the same result.
To increase your pH by 1.0 point and make your soil more
alkaline: Add 4 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in sandy
soils Add 8 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in loamy
soils Add 12 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in clay
soils Add 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in peaty
soils Correction of an overly acid soil should be considered a
long term project, rather than trying to accomplish it in one
gardening season.
It is easier to test your soil each year and
make your adjustments gradually. The addition of hardwood ash,
bone meal, crushed marble, or crushed oyster shells will also
help to raise soil pH levels.
Lowering The Soil pH To Make It
More Acid If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur may be
used to lower the pH if it is available. To reduce the soil pH
by 1.0 point: Mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulphur per square
yard if the soil is sandy. Mix in 3.6 oz per square yard for all
other soils.
The sulphur should be thoroughly mixed into the
soil before planting. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips,
cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower
the soil pH. More Soil pH Tips Always read and follow the
manufactures recommendations when using chemical products.
Use
appropriate protection such as a dust mask, and gloves. The best
way to adjust pH is gradually, over several seasons. Lime should
be applied only when tests show it to be necessary. If the soil
is excessively alkaline, you may find that you are better off to
build a raised bed using topsoil purchased from a nursery.
Article by Tracker Outdoors www.tracker-outdoors.com
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