How to acidify the soil

The level of soil acidity is often determined which plants will grow well, and for which it should be improved or lower the pH level. For example, primroses, lilies, lupins, camellia will not develop and delight with abundant bloom if the soil is not enough sour.

It is possible to determine the level of soil acidity in a special laboratory, but it will turn out to do this in domestic conditions. Of course, the results of such a test will be not too accurate, but will give a general idea of \u200b\u200bthe level of acidity. The easiest way is to attach a lactium paper to wet ground. It is important to check the water pH, which is used for watering.

To determine the acidity of the soil, you need to choose from the walls of the hole, dugged on the depth of the fertile layer. Taking a little ground from top to bottom along the wall, it is stirred and compressed in the hand, putting the indicator paper on the strip. If the color of the paper has become intensely red - the soil acidity is high, with a pink paper - medium, yellow - weak, and light blue denotes a neutral level of pH.

You can also use the usual food soda and vinegar to approximately determine the soil acidity. By dividing the soil sample for two portions, in one of them add vinegar to another - soda. If the soda is scaled - the soil is acidic, and if the vinegar is alkaline. All these ways are quite primitive and give only a distant idea of \u200b\u200bthe state of the soil. It is better to purchase a special device that will give more accurate and truthful information, you only need to use it according to the instructions.

If the pH is below 7 - the soil is acidic, with a pH indicator less than 4.5 - the soil is considered to be strong and it is necessary to take appropriate measures for her alkalization. For loose land, the best way of acidification is the addition of organic substances (compost and manure, sphagnum). This is especially well acidified compost from oak leaves.

In clay, heavy soil is better to add sulfur or iron sulfate. It is necessary to make at least 1 kg of sulfur on 9 square meters and 5 kg of iron sulfate by 90 square meters. Such processing should be carried out a year before landing, dripping the soil to a depth of 12 cm. In acidic soils, it is important to use fertilizers containing ammonia, but avoid fertilizers, which include potassium nitrate and calcium nitrate, they increase the pH level. It is not recommended to use vinegar, which, although reduces the pH of the soil, but destructively affects the beneficial organisms, plants. If the plants are already planted, it is better to use sulfur to acidify it, adding it to a wet soil, trying not to disturb the root system.

Sour soil is not a sentence for a skillful and caring gardener. Adding organic substances (compost, manure, cotton seeds) or complex fertilizers containing sulfur, iron sulfate, you can grow amazing rhododendrons and azaleas, camellia and lilies.