alkline soil - how to reduce the ph?
Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:25 am
Hi - Merry Christmas folks
I have just opened and used one of my christmas presents (never could wait till the big day )Now I knew my soil was alkaline but have been shocKed to discover just how alkaline it is - the reading was off the scale which only goes up to 8.0. I did the test twice using rainwater the second time (as our tap water is so full of lime limesclae can kill a kettle in a mater of weeks)but the result was the same. My soil is clay but not the very worst heavy kind. I havent had a full growing season on my new ground yet so I havent encountered any major problems so far but with that level of ph I know I will. So whats the best solution? The raised beds are 50/50 garden soil and bought in compost to get them started and I've got several compost and leaf mould heaps on the go that should be ready in the spring and I have a ready supply of chicken manure. Any thoughts?
I have just opened and used one of my christmas presents (never could wait till the big day )Now I knew my soil was alkaline but have been shocKed to discover just how alkaline it is - the reading was off the scale which only goes up to 8.0. I did the test twice using rainwater the second time (as our tap water is so full of lime limesclae can kill a kettle in a mater of weeks)but the result was the same. My soil is clay but not the very worst heavy kind. I havent had a full growing season on my new ground yet so I havent encountered any major problems so far but with that level of ph I know I will. So whats the best solution? The raised beds are 50/50 garden soil and bought in compost to get them started and I've got several compost and leaf mould heaps on the go that should be ready in the spring and I have a ready supply of chicken manure. Any thoughts?