Making acid soil for blueberries
TheTick
18 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (68)
tasymo
14 years agorlargaespada
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Keeping soil acid for blueberries
Comments (12)"Chips" usually means the pieces an inch or more across that are ground up in those grinders the tree-trimmer trucks pull as trailers (or similar larger machines). "Sawdust" is in two sizes, that from rough-cutting lumber (shreds say 1/4-1/2 inch across) and that from finish cutting (the finer material we typically call "sawdust"). Planing debris (for example from taking a rough-cut 2x4 that is 2x4 inches into the 1 3/4x3 3/4 finished board we usually call a "two by four") can be mixed with either, though more typically the rough-cut sawdust. "Softwood" typically means conifer (pines, firs, etc.) no matter how hard, and hardwood means from broadleaf trees no matter how soft. Real simple and easy to follow isn't it? Ground up fir Christmas trees should be excellent as a mulch. The antiwilt material they spray on it might be some slight problem but sure would not slow me up from using it....See MoreHow to make garden soil Acidic
Comments (25)I second the suggestion of vinegar. I'm growing some blueberries in containers and needed to lower the pH in their pots from 6.5 to 5. I didn't need enough to buy a large bag of soil sulfur, so I added a cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. While watering the plants, I would add a few cups of the dilute vinegar. When they needed to be watered again, I tested the soil with a pH meter and added a bit more of the dilute vinegar until I had the pH down to 5. I got my meter on eBay just as DH12 said. Some people say they aren't accurate, but mine is working fine as long as I insert the probes fully into the dirt and make sure the dirt is moist. Some people don't read the instructions that say these meters won't work in liquid, and then say these cheap meters don't work. I have an aquarium test kit and and tested the pH before I got the meter, but it was difficult sometimes because water raised the readings unless I used distilled water to mix with the soil sample. The meter is quick, cheap, easy, and gave me the same results as a reagent test kit. Because of having to water frequently this summer with hard tap water, the pH creped back up to 5.5 after a month, so I added a bit more vinegar, and the pH is holding now. Greg...See MoreDo pine trees make alkaline soil more acidic, or is that a myth?
Comments (36)There are many things that determine what a soils pH will be, and all have been clearly laid out here by several contributors. What the soil is composed of, rainfall, and amount of organic matter all play a role in how many free Hydrogen ions are in that soil and soil pH is a measure of that. What is needed to change a soils pH depends on where it is and what is meant to be done. Adding lime (Calcium Carbonate) will reduce the free Hydrogen ions and raise the soils pH while Sulfur adds more of them and lowers the soils pH. A good reliable soil test from a good soil testing lab is a good source of information and they should be able to tell you how much Sulfur needs to be added to make the needed changes. Adding 1 pound per 1,000 square feet when 10 pounds is needed will not do much of anything. Throwing a handful or three of something is more a waste of time, money, and energy than any help. Here is a link that might be useful: understanding soil pH...See MoreMaking soil more acidic
Comments (19)I think that the difference in buffering capacity of the soils in question is the reason that people see different results and disagree on this topic. Here is an example of how buffering capacity of the medium will affect pH changes. Assume we have two different 100 gallon tanks of water. Tank number one is pure distilled water. To this tank we add a few drops of sodium hydroxide to raise the pH to 8.5. Tank number two is water drawn from a well with very high levels of minerals primarily consisting of calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) metal cations ("hard water"). This water measures a pH of 8.5. Now we have two tanks of water that both measure pH at exactly 8.5. But both tanks are not created equal! "Think; two different gardens, both with pH 8.5 soil" We want to lower the pH to neutral so we will need to add an acid to both tanks. Tank number one will only need a few drops of hydochloric acid to lower the pH to neutral, while tank number two may require 100x more acid to become neutral. The reason for this difference is the buffering capacity of tank number two due to the high levels of calcium and magnesium metal cations. This has been my hands on experience from hydroponic gardening and I believe that the same chemistry applies to acidic soil amendments such as peat moss. Therefore, depending on the specific soil buffering capacity, gardener number one may require only a small amount of peatmoss (by volume) to change the pH of his soil from 8.5 to neutral, while gardener number two may require vastly larger amounts. Here is a link that might be useful: My soil test, oh happy days..... not...See Moreyukkuri_kame
14 years agoblueberrier1
14 years agorlargaespada
14 years agomrnglry
13 years agoBrian Tremback
13 years agoflowerpatch
13 years agocookingofjoy
13 years agoblueberrier1
13 years agowanttheblues
13 years agosomcprt697_yahoo_com
13 years agojolj
13 years agos_f_walton_ntlworld_com
13 years agoatresidder06_wou_edu
13 years agoarugula
13 years agodennyzeske_charter_net
13 years agoblueberryhillsfarm
13 years agoiamthefeenix_yahoo_com
13 years agoafmoore40_msn_com
13 years agoblueberryhillsfarm
13 years agozapadenko_yahoo_com
12 years agoloraine_onemain_com
12 years agomvpbcs
12 years agozuni
12 years agoeinhverfr
12 years agoFoodtomax
12 years agoMensaBarbie
12 years agoandy9999
12 years agocapoman
12 years agodexterdog
11 years agoIxchnel
11 years agodvmac
11 years agoirenka
10 years agobowmag803
8 years agofcivish
8 years agoDennis Bartlett
8 years agoXtal in Central TX, zone 8b
7 years agoUser
7 years agoJosh Heyneke
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agojolj
7 years agoUser
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agojolj
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agojolj
7 years agomvpbcs
7 years agoDon Blume
7 years agomkirkwag
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoBarbara Simoes
2 years agojoe LeGrand
2 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESHave Acidic Soil in Your Yard? Learn to Love Gardening Anyway
Look to acid-loving plants, like conifers and rhododendrons, to help your low-pH garden thrive
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGrow a Beautiful Garden in Alkaline Soil
Got alkaline soil? Learn how to manage it and the many beautiful plants that will thrive in this ‘sweet’ soil
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSSummer Crop: How to Grow Blueberries
Plant blueberries in spring or fall for garden beauty through three seasons — and a sweet superfood in summer
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Grow Blueberries for Their Fruit and More
Eastern gardeners should consider growing blueberry plants for their delicious fruits, bee-friendly spring blooms and brilliant fall foliage
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Get Good Soil for Your Edible Garden
The nutrients in your soil feed the plants that feed you. Here are tips on getting it right — just in time for planting season
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils
What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil
Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGet the Dirt on Your Garden’s Soil
Understand how your soil supports your plants so you can ensure your garden’s success
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSContainer Gardening Basics: The Dirt on Soil
Learn the types of potting soil available and the best mixes to help your containers thrive
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Pick a Mulch — and Why Your Soil Wants It
There's more to topdressing than shredded wood. Learn about mulch types, costs and design considerations here
Full StorySponsored
joel_bc