skip to main content

Organic Gardening

Organic lowering of soil pH

18 years ago

the soil in my area has a very high pH (around 7.5) and I am curious about organic ammendments that will lower the pH. I prefer "vegan" organic ammendments that are made from mineral and plant sources.

Comments (15)

dereckbc
18 years ago
Compost, but it takes a lot of it and time. If you are really needing it down try elemental sulphur.

General instructions can be found here:
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~blpprt/lowerpH.html
germ
18 years ago
Soil foodweb has data that using an aerated fungal dominated compost tea will lower your soil's pH. The change is in weeks and is permenant. After, it's the soil biology that decides the soil's pH.
Related Discussions
Will Miracid actually lower soil pH for blueberries
Q
Comments (8)
Thanks to all. I have no concerns whatsoever about going the sulfuric acid route, particularly as I have a boxed bag of same sitting in the basement. To those who do the same, seems like I've seen a couple methods suggested on www searching, some do so at all watering with the pH of the water adjusted to a higher level (5.5-6.0), some do occasionally with pH adjusted down around 4.5-5.0. And then some suggest mag sulfate (epson salts) or vinegar instead with all watering. Anything optimal? Plants did have some yellow veining at beginning towards the end of their hardening stay and then first month or so after transplanted. Now all heavy green foliage, well being this is AK and all, now getting a hint of red, like I said maybe the Chippewa will have time, maybe not. My rock is granite mostly. The 35 year old AK log house foundation is get this pressure treated wood for the full basement. Who knows what is leaching from that, it is the old stuff with a lot of copper obviously and who knows what else, but the plants are about 8 feet out from the wall, I'm not too concerned. I'll go with the suggestion of bamboo_rabbit today and water all with water adjusted down to 4.5 or so. Thanks again.
...See More
How can I lower soil pH from 6.5 to 4.5 by Spring?
Q
Comments (47)
If drainage is a problem, you can use sand if you create mounds for the plants using a great deal of sand. A little sand can actually make things worse from research I've seen, but if you use something like a third sand by volume, mixed with a third peat and a third soil and create the mounds with this it should work fine. If you make such a mix without building mounds you may create bath tubs that fill with water and drown roots. You can also grow them in pots mixing 50/50- sand to peat and put them half way into existing soil- or make a mix with ground pine bark that is aged for the purpose (this is harder to find but more often used in blueberry production). If you set up a drip system or water them consistently, blueberries grow very well this way, if you put them in big enough pots. 5 gallon pots would support mature plants pretty well. Is your soil clay? Do you know the texture of your soil? This is something that is not at all obvious and people often are confused about the texture of their soil. This is also where your county cooperative extension can provide better advice than you can get on-line- although there are simple tests using dishwater detergent to get a general reading on your soils composition. Drainage is easier, because you can figure out how long it takes to drain after heavy rains or dig a hole and fill it with water several times. Not sure of the exact procedure but it is an easy search for details.
...See More
How quickly can I lower pH of soil in order to plant acidic plants?
Q
Comments (13)
See if you can find Soil & Water dudes to talk to instead of Cooperative Extension. How old is the construction? If it is more than 5 years old, then alkaline leaching has already occurred, and you've got what you've got. My personal experience, living in a lime pocket among an assortment of lime pockets, is that most gardeners have been quite thoroughly brainwashed into thinking anything in the east has to be acidic. It just isn't so. So when confronted with an alternate reality, they come up with excuses. Concrete leaching is a classic. Older concrete doesn't leach, and the leaching doesn't travel much. I don't know how many times I've been told that I should stop liming, and then I will have 'normal' acidic soil. If you want to know how the neighbor grows camellias, go over and ask. And no, my soil doesn't fizz either, and my pH, and calcium numbers are very similar to yours.
...See More
Lowering soil pH for some new shrubs
Q
Comments (14)
Hi - I don't live in Mi but in Zone 5 which I think might be the same zone as you. I have multiple limelight hydrangeas in my lawn and although I don't have an LA dreaming hygrangea, I do have multiple endless summer bushes which I think are very similar and also require acid to lower the pH to produce blue blooms. The limelights don't need any acid, they grow fine. In fact I find them to be extremely hardy. I really don't due anything to them. Mine are about 7 years old, and they don't require any additional watering other than what nature provides. The endless summer hygrangeas are a different issue. I replaced one of them, because one of the bushes failed to thrive, and in general only one of my three bushes grows to any significant height. This is more likely because when they were planted a hole was dug and they were just plopped inside the ground with a lot of clay. The one I replaced I dug a very wide and deep hole and ammended the soil with a lot of mushroom and cow compost (throwing out the clay dirt from the hole) and the new shrub is growing a lot better than the old. I've added two types of "acid" products to make the balls turn blue - both the espoma acidifier (comes in blue bag) and Aluminum Sulfate. The espoma product is very gentle and overtime I've added bag after bag to the three trees (probably 6-8 in total). I put around the drip line and work into the soil. I takes a lot of product and it seems it only works for a month or two -- so it was a constant exercise. Wanting something a little more effective, I started using the Aluminum Sulfate. This product seemed to work quicker and it also tended to last longer -- but just as other posters in this thread have commented, the effects are eventually buffered by the clay. I worry about the long term effects of aluminum in the soil, but I don't really have any downsides "just yet" and I'm not growing the bushes anywhere near a food garden. It also however is kind of a pain to keep adding to the soil. They bloom on old wood, so you need to product the limbs during the winter to get the best bloom growth. I've also found with the bush I replanted -- that if you add the acid to the mulch/top soil preparation during when planting -- you need to add far less acid later since there isn't as much clay to buffer the soil. My best results with these hygrangeas however were to grow them within a pot. I guess this makes sense since I can add the correct type of soid and not worry about the clay, and I take the pots inside the garage during the winter so I don't have to worry about the stems breaking. I take them inside a garage, let the leaves fall off, and only water about once a month. A lot more prolific blooms as you can see in the photographs. Unfortunately with the plants left in the ground, I've either become lazy or sedentary and I've just excepted they aren't ever really going to stay blue. If you're willing to accept the fact that most will be pink, then they are not much maintenance. If however you want the classic "blue" appearance, be prepared for a lot of work.
...See More
lou_spicewood_tx
18 years ago
7.5 pH isn't "very" high. Neutral ph is 7.

Dominated fungal tea will help. My soil is on the alkaline side thanks to limestone rocks so that's what i'll be using to help countereffect that.

Doesn't elemental sulfur kill fungi? Dchall brought that up several occasional. He wouldn't touch anything that's sulfur based.
dpeck
18 years ago
I put hundreds of pounds of coffeee grounds on my garden over the winter and till it all in the spring. I have seen amazing results!!! Do you all agree?
germ
18 years ago
Actually, tilling is the wrong thing to do, at any time. Coffee grounds are not going to effect your soil's pH.

And Yes Lou, sulfur is not a good choice and does damage to the soil foodweb.
pablo_nh
18 years ago
"I have seen amazing results!!! Do you all agree?"

Unless you're lying :)

Used coffee grounds- great amendment, but they won't do much to the pH. Coffee is slightly acidic, the used grounds aren't. The effect of dumping a little brewed coffee won't be much- unless you flood the area with gallons every week :) Makes the worms work faster.
fertilizersalesman
18 years ago
A pH of 7.5 is high enough that it can induce micronutrient deficiencies and it would be a good idea to lower it down to 6.5. Although organic decomposition will lower pH over time, the most practical way is by using elemental sulfur which is both vegan and organic. As stated in a post above this may have a negative impact on some soil organisms, although it will be temporary and in the long run the lower pH will be of benefit to soil organisms.
paquebot
18 years ago
Sulfur is a natural element found naturally in most soils and in various concentrations. Adding basic elemental sulfur to lower pH in one area may be the real way of correcting Nature's error. There may only be a question as to accepting it as organic inasmuch as just about all sulfur now is a bi-product of the petroleum industry.

Working a lot of fresh shredded pine boughs and needles into the soil will also reduce the pH while being organic. White pines are especially effective at doing that but all other Christmas tree are probably as equally adept at it.

Martin

Here is a link that might be useful: pH & Pine Needles
dchall_san_antonio
18 years ago
7.5? What's the problem? Try 8.5! All I do is fertilize with organic materials and greensand to lower the pH enough to grow things. Every year or so we get a rain that flushes the acidity out of the soil and we return to 8.5. Then if we don't do anything, we suffer until the following spring when it seems to be back low enough to grow things again.
nandina
18 years ago
7.5 is not a high pH. It is my guess that you do not need to lower your pH on the entire property but just in spots to grow plants which require more acid soils. Another organic method is to spray the soil (using a hose end sprayer, following label instructions)with Humic acid four times during each growing season. It will not harm plants and is a faster method to reduce pH if you use it coupled with soil amending/shredded pine needle methods.
byron
18 years ago
1 lb of sulpher per 100 sq ft should be enough, It should
last a year maybe 2

Even espsom salts will reduce pH
Kimmsr
18 years ago
While organic matter does release Carbon Dioxide while being digested by soil bacteria and that could conceivably lower your soils pH it would take a very large quantity of OM to make much difference. What causes your soil to test high is too many OH+ ions floating around in there and you need something that will detach those ions. To a certain extent and over a long period of time maybe organic matter will do that but you need something like sulfur that will work faster initially, but you also need the OM in your soil for that longer term help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Soil pH; What it means
nygardener
18 years ago
How about using bales of peat? In small quantities, it does a nice job lowering pH in my potting soil.
patty4150
18 years ago
Yes please, what about peat moss?
DrHorticulture_
18 years ago
Peat will lower pH but it is not very high in nutrients and from an environmental perspective, it's not a great idea.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Grow a Beautiful Garden in Alkaline Soil

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Got alkaline soil? Learn how to manage it and the many beautiful plants that will thrive in this ‘sweet’ soil

GARDENING GUIDES Have Acidic Soil in Your Yard? Learn to Love Gardening Anyway

By Falon Mihalic

Look to acid-loving plants, like conifers and rhododendrons, to help your low-pH garden thrive

GARDENING GUIDES Get the Dirt on Your Garden’s Soil

By Falon Mihalic

Understand how your soil supports your plants so you can ensure your garden’s success

GARDENING GUIDES How to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine

GARDENING GUIDES Gardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils

By Falon Mihalic

What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here

FARM YOUR YARD How to Get Good Soil for Your Edible Garden

By Abundant City

The nutrients in your soil feed the plants that feed you. Here are tips on getting it right — just in time for planting season

CONTAINER GARDENS Container Gardening Basics: The Dirt on Soil

Learn the types of potting soil available and the best mixes to help your containers thrive

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Shape a Rain Garden and Create the Right Soil for It

By Falon Mihalic

Learn how to grade, lay out and amend the soil in your rain garden to support your plants

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Solutions for Soggy Soil

By Steve Asbell

If a too-wet garden is raining on your parade, try these water-loving plants and other ideas for handling all of that H2O

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Easy Ways to Manage Stormwater for Lower Bills and a Healthier Earth

By Billy Goodnick Garden Design

Send cleaner runoff into local waterways and spend less on yard irrigation with these simple landscaping approaches

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Controlling aphids indoors over winter on milkweed

8

When and how much wood ash can we use in our garden

9

Veggie Tales >>> March 2024

63

Veggie garden design advice needed for backyard

7

where to find china doll dahlia

3