pH Testing Is Crucial For Determining Soil Acidity?

Answer 1

Whether you are a professional turf specialist, or a greenthumb attempting to determine the pH level of your soil, pH testing will let you know the acididty or alkalinity of your soil. This is crucial to growing a thriving garden or lawn, as soils that test in the extreme zones of the pH test will be hampered, and will fail to thrive. The pH, or potential hydrogen ions indicates the amount of lime, or calcium, in your soil. Some plants, such as clematis, prefer a high, or alkaline pH, showing higher lime content. Others, such as rhododendron and heathers cannot tolerate lime in the soil, and so thrive in a lower, or more acidic soil pH.

Testing Your Soil pH

Generally, in moist climates the soil pH is lower, or more acidic, while drier climates tend to have higher pH, or more calcium in the soil. If your pH test reads lower than 7.0, your soil is acidic. Higher than 7.0 means it is alkaline. You can buy an inexpensive test kit at most home and garden centers, or even hardware stores. These pH testing kits generally include a test tube, some testing solution, and a color chart. Place a soil sample in the test tube, add a few drops of test solution, shake it up, and let it sit for an hour or so. The solution/soil mixture will change color according to the pH level.

Raising and Lowering Your Soil pH

It is easier to make soils more alkaline than acidic, generally speaking. Adding elements such as hardwood ash, bone meal, crushed marble, or oyster shells will help raise the soil pH to a more alkaline state. You can also add hydrated lime to your soil, which should bring it up about 1.0 on the scale. Correcting an overly acid soil will take some time, so you will want to make gradual increases over a year’s period or more--the same for lowering soil pH as well.

You can use sulfur to lower your soil’s pH to a more acidic state, following safety guidelines closely to prevent harmful contact or overdosing your soil. Use 1.2 ounces/square yd. of ground rock sulfur for sandy soils, and 3.6 ounces/square yd. for all other soil types. Thoroughly mix the sulfur into the soil prior to planting, and do periodic pH testing to make sure you’ve done it right!

Answer 2

pH testing is important for determining soil acidity because it indicates the level of acidity or alkalinity in the soil, which influences nutrient availability to plants. Different plants have varying pH preferences, so knowing the soil pH can help in selecting appropriate plants or adjusting the soil pH through amendments. Maintaining the right pH level is crucial for healthy plant growth and overall soil health.