Soil pH

                                     2 Easy Solutions To Garden pH

Most garden soils have a pH between 5.5 and 8.0. This number helps you determine when and how to adjust your garden soil’s pH level. If the pH level is below 6, the soil is too acidic, and you need to add ground limestone.

If the measurement is above 7.5, the soil is too alkaline for most vegetables, and you need to add soil sulfur.

In general, soils in climates with high rainfall — such as east of the Mississippi River (particularly east of the Appalachian Mountains) or in the Pacific Northwest — tend to be acidic. West of the Mississippi, where less rainfall occurs, soils are more alkaline.

Why Is Soil pH Important?

Soil pH is a measure of the acidity and alkalinity in soils. pH levels range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, below 7 acidic and above 7 alkaline. .A pH reading that is too high or low will lead to a loss of these microorganisms, which will result in a less healthy soil overall. In addition, pH affects the solubility and potency of certain toxic chemicals, such as aluminum, which can be taken up by plants if the pH is off.

How to Raise the pH in Acidic Soil