| As you may have observed from your
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| | perform the test on the combined sample.A
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| gardening experiences plants can be fussy
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| | quick way to find out the pH of an area
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| things. The right location, amount of
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| | is to look to see if there are any house
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| sunlight and 101 other factors influence
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| | hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
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| your plant's growing ability. One factor
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| | already growing in the area. If so
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| which is very beneficial in understanding
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| | observe the color of its flowers. A soil
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| before putting that new plant into the
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| | pH of 6 or below will produce blue
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| earth is soil pH.
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| | flowers while a soil pH of 6.8 or higher
|
|
| |
| | will produce pink flowers.
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| What is Soil pH?
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| |
|
| Let's get all scientific for a moment
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| | How to Make Soil More Alkaline (Increase
|
| and learn what pH is. In chemistry pH is
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| | pH)
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| a measure of how acidic or alkaline a
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| | If your soil is acidic or slightly
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| solution is. Okay chemistry lesson over.
| |
| | acidic you can take steps to make it more
|
| Basically soil pH is a measure of how
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| | alkaline to accommodate the plants you
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| acidic or alkaline your soil is. Soil pH
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| | want to put there. You can make your soil
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| is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. If
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| | more alkaline (increase its pH value) by
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| your soil has a pH value of less than 7
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| | adding a form of lime. Lime is a compound
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| then you have acidic soil. On the other
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| | of calcium or calcium and magnesium. It
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| hand if your soil has a pH value of
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| | is usually applied in the form of ground
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| greater than 7 then you have alkaline
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| | agricultural limestone, burnt lime or
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| soil. A pH value of 7 is neutral, meaning
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| | hydrated lime (slaked lime). The smaller
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| you have neither acidic or alkaline soil.
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| | the limestone particles then the quicker
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|
| |
| | your soil will become more alkaline. For
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| The Effect of Soil pH on Plants
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| | this reason hydrated lime will offer the
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| Knowing the pH value of your soil before
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| | quickest performance because it is
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| planting is very important as it has a
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| | slightly soluble in water so it can
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| direct influence on the health of the
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| | permeate the soil quicker and reduce
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| plant. Each plant has its own recommended
| |
| | acidity faster.Increasing the pH of your
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| soil pH value range. The reason for this
| |
| | soil is not an overnight process and it
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| is that soil pH effects the availability
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| | is best to allow 2-3 months to allow the
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| of nutrients within the soil and plants
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| | lime to neutralize the acidity of the
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| have different nutrient needs. For
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| | soil acidity.
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| example the nutrient nitrogen, a very
| |
| |
|
| important plant nutrient, is readily
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| | How to Make Soil More Acidic (Decrease
|
| available in soil when the pH value is
| |
| | pH)
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| above 5.5. Similarily the nutrient
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| | Some ornamental plants and fruit plants
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| phosphorous is available when the pH
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| | like blueberries require an acidic soil.
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| value is between 6 and 7. If a plant is
| |
| | To make your soil more acidic (decrease
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| placed into the wrong kind of soil it
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| | its pH value) you can use either
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| will be lacking in nutrients that it
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| | aluminium sulphate or sulphur. Aluminium
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| needs which will promote disease. In
| |
| | sulphate is the quickest acting as it
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| general the best pH value range for soil
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| | will increase the acidity as soon as it
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| is approximately 6 or 7 as this is the
| |
| | disolves into the soil. The downsides are
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| range in which most nutrients can be
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| | though that its effects can be short term
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| readily available.
| |
| | and it is possible to over-apply it.The
|
|
| |
| | more recommended but slower way to
|
| Finding Out pH of Soil
| |
| | increase your soil pH is to use sulphur.
|
| Finding out the pH of soil is usually a
| |
| | Sulphur converts to sulphuric acid with
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| trivial matter and the kits to do so
| |
| | the help of bacteria in the soil but this
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| should be available at most good garden
| |
| | takes time depending on factors like the
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| centres. Usually a pH testing kit will
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| | presence of bacteria, texture of the soil
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| include a small container / test tube,
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| | and moisture levels. This could take
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| testing solution and a color chart. A
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| | months if conditions are not ideal.
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| sample of soil is taken from your garden,
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| |
|
| placed into the container / test tube and
| |
| | Conclusion
|
| a few drops of testing solution are
| |
| | Remember to always take into account
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| added. The container is then shaken and
| |
| | soil pH when deciding what to plant in
|
| left for a certain period of time. The
| |
| | your soil. If you do not know what the pH
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| color of the sample in the container is
| |
| | of your soil is then test your soil and
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| then compared against the color chart to
| |
| | if needs be take steps mentioned earlier
|
| determine the pH value of the soil. Note
| |
| | to change the pH value over time. Best of
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| that if you want to determine the soil pH
| |
| | luck!Visit the home and gardening forums
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| of an large area it may be a good idea to
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| | at or start your free home and garden
|
| take soil samples from many different
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| | blog.
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| locations, combine the samples and then
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|
