How to Reduce Acidic PH
Most plant species require a soil pH in a range of 5.8 to 7.0 on the pH scale. Soil pH may need adjusting due to overfertilization or water leaching important minerals from the soil bed. There are also some plant varieties that require a more acidic soil for optimum growth. To prevent damage to current plant growth, do not change the pH of your soil more than one point in a growing season. More change than that requires several years to accomplish. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Test the current pH of your soil by following the instructions on a home soil pH test kit, which you can purchase at a garden retail store. A pH higher than 7 is considered basic or alkaline, while a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic.
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Add 8 oz of lime per square yard of loam soil to increase the pH by one point. This will make the soil less acidic and produce a higher pH number.
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Water the soil to dissolve the lime. Wait two days and test the soil again to record the change in pH. Repeat the process only if the pH did not change.
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4
If the soil has become too alkaline, apply a fertilizer that contains sulfur-coated urea or ammonium sulfate to lower the pH of the soil. Apply the recommended amount of fertilizer according to instructions on the package label.
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Water the soil to dissolve the fertilizer. Wait two days and test the soil to record the pH change. Repeat the process only if the pH did not change.
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Add 3.6 ounces of sulfur per square yard of loam soil to decrease the pH by one point in cases where there is little change or an immediate change is needed. This will make the soil more acidic and produce a lower pH number. This process may produce drastic results. It is better to apply less sulfur rather than more, to prevent plant damage.
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Thoroughly mix the sulfur into the soil and water the area. Wait five to seven days and test the soil again to record the change in pH. Sulfur takes longer to change the pH of the soil.
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Monitor the soil several times through each growing season. This allows you to make small adjustments as needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective eye gear when using chemicals. An application of straight sulfur is too harsh for some soils.
