How To Lower Ph Of Garden Soil

Plant growers need to have some basic knowledge about the pH factor of their soil. They need to know this before they start their garden. Soil pH, simply defined, is a measure of the soil's acidity and alkalinity.

The measured levels range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, below 7 acidic and above 7 alkaline. The optimal pH range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.0. However, many plants have adapted to thrive at pH values outside this range.

Your plants of choice may prefer either an acidic soil or an alkaline soil. Just bear in mind that plants grown outside their preferred pH will not thrive well. If for instance, you plan to grow azaleas, lilies or hydrangeas, they will thrive in acidic soil with a pH level of 6. Other plants like thyme and geraniums prefer alkalinity with a PH level of 7 or more.

Contents

1 Vinegar: Versatile And Amazingly Beneficial
2 Soil And Vinegar - Basic Information
3 How To Lower pH In Soil With Vinegar
- 3.1 Prepare These Items
- 3.2 Test Your Soil Using A pH Test Kit
- 3.3 Test Your Soil Using Materials From Your Home
- 3.4 Make The Necessary Adjustments To Your Soil
4 Vinegar: A Versatile Household Product

Vinegar: Versatile And Amazingly Beneficial

Do you know how to lower pH in soil with vinegar? Knowing it and doing this enables the garden soil to grow your choices. There surely is a way and it involves two very common chemicals that are already in your kitchen pantry. Vinegar and baking soda can do the miracle for you.

You have always thought that these chemicals are just good for cooking and cleaning. You have used them to flavor your dishes, deodorize your fridge, clean your teeth, and remove stains. When combined, these can even unclog your kitchen sinks. For such cheap chemicals, they truly show versatility as kitchen aides.

Unknown to many, these chemicals are also indispensable in gardening. Vinegar is a weed killer. Baking soda is great for treating black spot fungus on roses. More significantly, you can use these two to naturally change the pH of the soil. You don't even need to go to the garden center to purchase pH adjusters which may be laden with harsh substances.

Soil And Vinegar - Basic Information

As mentioned earlier, different kinds of plants can only survive and flourish in soil with their preferred pH level. With soil pH ranging from 0 to 14 scale, neutral soil has a pH of 7. Below seven indicates that the soil is acidic and above 7 will indicate the soil to be alkaline. Most plants thrive with a pH reading between 6.5 to 7.

Before making any changes to the pH level of your soil, have the soil tested to find out its precise pH level. From such readings, you can start amending your soil's acidity by applying vinegar. Regularly check the pH level. Do this to ensure that your applying of vinegar will not make the soil much too acidic for your plants.

Vinegar in itself is a thinned form of acetic acid. This means that placing it into the soil will naturally increase its acidity. Commercial vinegar found in your grocery store usually has a pH level of 2.4, meaning it's highly acidic. If you are into organic gardening, choose an organic variety of vinegar. There are several brands available out there.

How to lower pH in soil with vinegar is an easy task. You can even do it with your hands or by a simple irrigation system. In its most basic, just dilute the vinegar with water, then pour it into the soil.

For a wider application, you can use an injection to introduce the vinegar to the irrigation lines. This will then dispense the solution. Again, just be sure to regularly check the pH level of the treated soil, otherwise, the soil may become too acidic. Azaleas and rhododendrons thrive extremely well in acidic soil.

How To Lower pH In Soil With Vinegar

Prepare These Items

1. You'll need a pH meter or some litmus paper. Also, prepare a testing cup.

2. From your kitchen, take some distilled water, vinegar, and baking soda.

Test Your Soil Using A pH Test Kit

Determine the pH level of your soil. To do this, you can use a pH meter or even a pH test kit. You can usually find the instructions in the kit.
If there aren't any instructions, you can still do it easily. Add a tablespoon of soil in a cup. Then pour some distilled water and put the litmus paper strip or the prong into the soil. Either of these will provide the pH reading.

Test Your Soil Using Materials From Your Home

In the absence of a meter or litmus paper, do a homemade version to test the pH of the soil.
Take soil samples from your garden. Make sure to take them from the same place. Pour some distilled water on both samples. Add one tablespoon of vinegar to one cup and one tablespoon of baking soda on the other. Then start observing the reactions.
If the cup with the vinegar fizzes and bubbles, it means your soil is alkaline given that vinegar is acidic. If the cup with baking soda fizzes and bubbles, your soil is acidic given that the baking soda is alkaline.

Make The Necessary Adjustments To Your Soil

Pour vinegar to the soil to lower its pH level.
To do this, first, make your vinegar mixture. Combine one cup vinegar to a gallon of water. Then, carefully pour the mixture in the soil to adjust the pH level.
You may also want to raise the pH level of your soil, making it more alkaline. To do this, follow a similar procedure.
Make a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda and one gallon of water. Stir well, then pour the mixture on your soil.
Test and monitor your soil regularly on pH levels and make sure you do not apply too much vinegar or baking soda.

Vinegar: A Versatile Household Product

Vinegar does have its varied uses both inside and outside the home. Now you know how to lower pH in soil with vinegar. You can use it for flavoring foods, to adjust pH levels in your soil, and to remove stains and odors.

Adding vinegar to compost will provide it with minerals and make it more acidic. It can also act as a weed and grass killer. It also has a killer effect on slugs. This substance is truly an eco-friendly alternative to dreaded chemical pesticides.