Soil pH is a measurement of the number of Hydrogen ions present in the soil solution along with as the acidity of the soil.
When the soil pH is too acidic the nutrients that are present in the soil become locked-up or unavailable (low pH) or alkaline (high pH).

Correcting the pH has the same effect as applying fertilizer as it unlocks plant nutrients already present.
In your garden some garden plants thrive in acidic soils while others prefer an alkaline soil. The acidity or alkalinity of soil is a measurement by pH (potential Hydrogen ions). pH is a way to measure the amount of lime (calcium) contained in your soil, and the type of soil that you have.
A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an acidic soil and one with a pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline.
To Measure Soil pH
It is recommended that you use a relatively inexpensive, and follow the manufacturers instructions when testing the pH Level of your Gardens soil.
To raise or lower the pH level in the soil either Limestone or Sulfur is utilized.
Other materials will accomplish the same results; however the two that are listed are the most commonly used.

Limestone is added to the soil to raise the pH level because limestone is essentially calcium and calcium reacts with water in the soil to yield hydroxyl ions .. a process known as, hydrolysis = thus the pH level in the soil is raised.

Sulfur reacts with bacteria in the soil and produces sulfuric acid, which releases hydrogen ions thus causing the soil to become more acidic =the pH level is lowered.

Application Of Lime (To Raise Soil pH)

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
Add 8 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in loamy soils
Add 12 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in clay soils
Add 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in peaty soils
The addition of ash, bone meal, or crushed oyster shells will also help to raise soil pH levels.

Application of Sulfur (To Lower Soil pH)

If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur will lower the pH if it is available.
To reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point
Mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulfur per square yard if the soil is sandy
Mix in 3.6 oz per square yard for all other soils.
Composted leaves, wood chips, sawdust, leaf mold and peat moss, will also help to lower the soil pH.

Soil pH for Fruits and Vegetables
Most of all vegetables prefer a well-drained soil, rich in organic matter and slightly on the acidic side. A safe pH range for almost all vegetables is 6.0 to 6.5 pH. However as always there are exceptions to the rule. To obtain optimal results a more precise tracking and maintenance of soil pH will be required. This is not as difficult as one people would assume it to be. The pH requirements listed below give the maximum and minimum range, so as long as you stay within these parameters your success will improve.

Artichoke 6.5 -7.5
Asparagus 6.0 -8.0
Bush Beans 6.0 -7.5
Beets 6.0- 7.0
Broccoli 6.0 – 7.5
Brussels Sprouts 6.0 – 7.5
Cabbage 5.8 -6.2
Cantaloupe 5.5 -7.0
Carrots 5.5 – 7.5
Cauliflower 6.0 – 7.0
Celery 5.5 -6.5
Chicory 6.0- 7.5
Corn 5.5 -7.0
Cucumber 5.5 – 7.5
Eggplant 5.5 – 6.0
Garlic 5.5 – 7.5
Horse Radish 6.0 -7.0
Kale 6.0 – 7.5
Kohlrabi 6.0 – 7.5
Leek 6.0- 8.0
Lentil 5.5 – 7.0
Lettuce 6.0- 7.0
Mushroom 6.5- 7.5
Muskmelon 5.8 -6.2
Mustard 6.5 – 7.5
Onion 6.0 -7.0
Parsnip 5.5 -7.0
Peas 6.0- 7.5
Peanuts 5.0 -6.5
Peppers 5.5 -7.0
Potato 4.5 – 6.0
Potato-Sweet 5.5-6.0
Pumpkin 5.5-7.5
Radish 6.0-7.0
Raspberries 5.6 – 6.2
Rhubarb 6.0 – 6.8
Shallot 5.5 -7.0
Soy Bean 5.5 -6.5
Spinach 6.0- 7.5
Tomato 6.0 -6.8
Turnip 5.5-7.0
Watercress 5.0 -8.0
Watermelon 6.0 – 6.8

Soil pH for Common Flowers

Amaryllis 5.5 – 6.5
Baby’s Breath 6.5 – 7.0
Balsam 6.5 – 7.0
Begonia 5.5 – 7.5
Caladium 6.0 – 7.0
Candytuft 6.5 – 7.0
Canna 6.0 – 7.0
Carnation 6.5 – 7.0
Chrysanthemum 6.0 – 8.0
Cockscomb 6.0 – 7.5
Coleus 6.0 – 7.0
Cornflower 6.0 – 7.5
Cosmos 6.5 – 7.0
Daffodil 6.0 – 7.5
Dahlia 6.5 – 7.0
Day Lily 5.5- 7.0
Easter Lily 6.0 – 7.5
Four-O-Clock 6.0 – 7.5
Foxglove 6.5 – 7.0
Geranium 6.0 – 8.0
Gladiolus 6.5 – 7.0
Hollyhock 6.0 – 8.0
Iris 6.5 – 7.0
Larkspur 6.5 – 7.0
Lupine 6.5 – 7.0
Marigold 6.0 – 7.5
Nasturtium 6.5 – 7.0
Narcissus 6.0 – 7.5
Pansy 6.5 – 7.0
Petunia 6.5 – 7.0
Phlox 5.0 – 6.0
Poppy 6.5 – 7.0
Salvia 6.0 – 7.0
Shasta Daisy 6.0 – 8.0
Snapdragon 6.0 – 7.5
Sweet Alyssum 6.5 – 7.0
Sweet pea 6.5 – 7.0
Sweet William 6.5 – 7.0
Tuberose 6.0 – 7.0
Tulip 6.0 – 7.0
Verbena 6.0 – 8.0
Zinnia 5.5 – 7.5

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