how acidic?

18 years ago

I've got a bed design for my back patio but am concerned about the mix of plants. Some sites say the plants "prefer acidic soil" other don't say anything at all. Here is the list of plants I'm hoping to use:

Acidic? How much ---

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' (plan to be surrounded by white echinacea)

Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles'(planned along the edge of a bed, but in front of a Weigela red Prince)

Stephanandra incisa 'Crispa' (planned in front of Weigela wine & roses)

Sweeter to neutral soils? How much ---

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer' - I'd like it pink, hence sweet soil

Weigela 'Red Prince'

Paeonia 'Karl Forester'

Gold Euonymus

Spireas (Thor, Neon Flash)

Weigela 'Wine & Roses'

Itea virginica 'Little Henry'

Potentilla 'Abbotswood'

Potentilla 'Pink Beauty'

Rosa 'Iceberg'

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'

Do you see any major problems. I was going to "pink up" the hydrangeas by making that area sweet but otherwise leaving soil as is. I haven't had our soil tested so don't know the PH. Should I do this?

Sharon

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
18 years ago
What do you have in Canada that is the equivalent of our research based extension system? I've often wondered but have never found out the answer to that. Surely there are places where pH tests can be evaluated.

Since you have no idea what the pH of your soil is, I strongly suggest that you add absolutely nothing until you do know.

How much? How much product to add to raise or lower the pH?

That answer will depend entirely on what your existing pH is now, and on the soil type you have. You may find that you will need to add nothing at all. That is, of course, preferable to having to incorporate a product every year for the rest of your precious life!!
shrubs_n_bulbs
18 years ago
All the plants you list are fairly tolerant of any except extreme alkaline or acid soils. Not much you can do, except keeping your fingers crossed, until you know the pH of your soil. Once the Hydrangeas flower you'll have a rough idea :)
Related Discussions
How much acid for applesauce from windfalls?
Q
Comments (3)
Or you could pressure can it. I just gave up on all the new recommendations on what needs acid now, and when in doubt, I process it in a pressure cooker. Congrats on your windfall. I have six nice trees coming into their glory now, and half a dozen old ones who keep on keeping on. I spent part of the morning making apple juice for jelly. I have picked some, as they ripen, but I think I'll just work up the drops I want, leave the rest for the deer, until I get my grapes harvested, then get back to the apples in earnest.
...See More
Basic questions from a newbie
Q
Comments (6)
Let's see if I can answer some of your questions... Fruits tend to be high acid so already low risk and the sugar acts as a preservative as well. They are also boiled so bacteria is killed there. Pectin and sugar combine to create the "jell". You can add dry spices to nearly any recipe. Fresh herbs are not allowed unless substituted (not added) for another low acid ingredient (i.e reduce the amount of bell peppers in salsa to add more cilantro). Yes, you can put cloves or cinnamon sticks in the jar with your jam, but they can be awfully strong, so go easy! Or, just cook your jam with the spices in a bag and remove spices before canning. Make sure to follow "approved" recipes. You can always check here if you question them. There are lots out there that aren't approved. Many people still use old methods that current science has proven to be unsafe. Why risk it? And........... Welcome to our little group of addicts!! Post often, we don't mind questions at all! There is a search engine and lots of information there, so be sure to try that. I find that just one word in the search field yields more results. Yes, you're going to have to sort through more, but it won't eliminate pertinent info. My name is Deanna and I'm addicted to Food Preservation...
...See More
Let's Make Hot Sauce Discussion
Q
Comments (87)
I make a lot of refrigerator salsas, and use little vinegar, mostly Goya Bitter Orange juice, like is used in the Oaxacan habanero salsas. This is my current favorite. 2-cups dried Numex Suave Orange habaneros 5-dried Ghost peppers 1-small onion, sliced thin 2-medium carrots, sliced thin 6-cloves garlic, smashed 1-teaspoon white pepper 1-tablespoon table salt 1-1/2 cups Goya Bitter Orange juice. 1-cup water, maybe more Put liquids in blender, add salt and white pepper, and all dried chilies. Process until smooth. Do this first so they can start reconstituting. Preheat oven to 425 and place rack in next to highest position. In a large bowl, toss chopped onion, carrots, and garlic in a little olive oil. Spread parchment paper on a baking sheet, and spread veggies evenly over it, place in oven, and roast for 20-25 minutes or until some charring takes place on the onions. Remove, and let cool for five minutes. Pick up parchment paper, and funnel veggies into blender and process until smooth. You may have to add more water if it gets too thick Taste for seasoning, and store in fridge. This lasts me about a week or so. You can also use fresh habs and ghosts sliced in half and roasted with the veggies, but it does require a good vent hood on your stove. Damn, forgot to add the pic...
...See More
How to Acid Wash Pool Deck
Q
Comments (8)
Thanks to you for replying. The deck crew busted a pipe under the deck and we didn't know until pool startup. Ended up being a pipe to a bubbler. The plumbers broke the deck and found the pipe, fixed it, another crew came out and repaired the deck. It doesn't match. Probably because it is HomeDepot bagged concrete and not poured from a truck like the rest. The deck crew told me to acid wash it and it'd match! I'm thinking not. As they supposedly acid washed the rest of the deck but it is way too gray! Our old pool was also aggregate and not this gray. I was told they waited to long and didn't hand seed it enough. I've requested that the PB come out to personally see it. Here is the patch job and you're eyes aren't fooling you...the cut was not straight. We've spent way too much and I hope I'm not being a difficult customer. Would you accept a new pool this way? this is the deck. you can see all the gray and not many stones. they have already acid washed it once. In the upper left corner of the pic you can see the contrast of the patched deck. This is our pool. I really love the way it turned out even with the problems.
...See More
hoyess
Original Author
18 years ago
thanks shrubs n bulbs, as it was the 'mix' of plants I was worried about. If the ones I picked can tolerate most soils I will go ahead with what I have picked. I suspect I don't have any one extreme or the other. I hadn't though of leaving the hydrangea's bloom without supplementing the soil first for what colour I wanted. I may do this the first year to see what happens. Thanks again Sharon
ginny12
18 years ago
Clethra alnifolia is native here in MA and grows wild on my property--and flourishes in extremely acid soil.
tcragamuffin
17 years ago
How about holly and hydrangea with various perrenials? Holly needs peat moss & ferrous sulfate to increase acidity, but will that harm daylilies, phlox, carnations or wintergreen or creeping red sedum groundcover? We will consider getting a pH tester to determine the natural level of the soil.
jayco
17 years ago
My clethra is doing just fine in my neutral PH soil.
hoyess
Original Author
17 years ago
Just an update for everyone. My Clethra is doing fine among the others. This will be the first full year all these plants are in so we see how everything blooms.

Thanks all

Sharon

how acidic?

Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

shrubs_n_bulbs

Related Discussions

hoyess
Original Author

ginny12

tcragamuffin

jayco

hoyess
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

how acidic?

Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

shrubs_n_bulbs

Related Discussions

hoyessOriginal Author

ginny12

tcragamuffin

jayco

hoyessOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hoyess
Original Author

hoyess
Original Author