Adjusting Garden Soil pH

Spring is Approaching fast!

 Things to Consider for Spring

• Germinating Your Own Herb Seeds

• Ordering Potted Herb Plants

• Controlling Garden Pests

• Composting - Using Compost

• Drying and Storing Your Herbs

• Soil Fertility - Soil Testing Your Herb Garden Soil

• How the Changing Weather Will Affect Your Herb Garden

The acidity or alkalinity of soil is measured by Soil pH

Soil pH is a measure of soil acidity and is important in maintaining
calcium levels and other trace elements in your herb garden. A soil
pH of 7.0 is considered neutral and soil pH above 7.1 is alkaline. Garden soils below 6.0 is becoming acid.

A pH of 6 to 7 is enjoyed by most herbs although herb plants can be sensitive to other soil pH levels. Soils in moist climates tend to be acid and those in dry climates are alkaline. Some garden herbs will prefer acid soils while others prefer an alkaline soil.

The best way to quickly judge the pH of your soil is by the physical appearance of the herbs which are growing in it. If, in general, your herb garden doesn't appear to be doing well or if your garden space is new, then consider soil testing to determine the soil pH. It would be unwise to attempt to make any adjustments to your garden soil pH without soil testing because over correcting can cause damage to your crops.

Testing Soil pH in your Herb Garden

Different types of plants each require varying degrees of soil acidity or pH. Many garden centers will test the pH of a herb garden soil sample for you, or you can buy an inexpensive pH test kit at an on- line garden supply or nursery. The test kits generally consist of a test tube, some testing solution and a color chart to help you gauge the soil pH and other soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate and phosphorus.

Simply put a sample of your soil in the test tube that comes with the soil test kit add a few drops of test solution, shake it up and let it settle for a few minutes. The solution in the tube changes color according to the pH of your soil. Compare the color of the sample with the color chart that came with the kit. Matching colors will tell you the pH of your sample. Quality pH test kits will have a chart to help interpret the test result. You can also use an inexpensive Soil pH Meter.

 Adjusting Your Soil pH Levels

You can easily test soil pH using a soil pH tester or soil pH meter available at most garden supply centers. Once you have determined the soil pH you can easily make needed adjustments to the soil. Inexpensive materials to adjust your soil pH levels are readily available through garden supplies merchant.

Adding the required materials to adjust soil pH is not a quick fix. To register a change in the pH of your herb garden soil can take months. The soil should be periodically retested to ensure the steps which you have taken are having the desired affect.

To increase your pH by 1.0 point and make your soil more alkaline:

• Add 4 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in sandy soils which are low in organic matter.

• Add 8 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in loamy soils with average organic matter.

• Add 12 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in heavier clay soils.

• Add 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in soils which are very high in organic matter.

One of the best and least expensive was to lower garden soil pH is to add peat moss, available at most garden centers. Follow the directions printed in the back on the bale. If available, composted leaves, wood chips, leaf mold will also do a nice job.

Another way is to reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point by using ground rock sulphur.  The sulphur should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting.

• Mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulphur per square yard if the soil is sandy.

• Mix in 3.6 oz of ground rock sulphur per square yard for all other soils.

There are websites available to help you determine how much lime or sulfur to add to adjust the the soil pH of a given garden size. Try the Herb Garden Lime or Sulfur Calculator of the National Gardening Association.

It is easier to soil test your  each year and make your adjustments gradually. Lime or other products to change the soil pH should be applied only when tests show it to be necessary. They are always best applied in the fall, or as early in the spring as possible. Correction of an overly acid or alkaline soil should be considered a long term project to be accomplished over several gardening seasons rather than one.

Thomas Kueny – Publisher

http://www.growing-herbs.com