Re: Need Advice: Has anyone dealt with high alkaline soils?

**"* O* <t*@earthlink.net>**

Alkaline soil is what we have in most of California...for ornamental plants,
aluminum sulfate will drop the pH pretty fast...likewise, using acid-based
fertilizers, ammonium sulfate, etc. will also.
  I'd suppose your water supply is alkaline...best to test the water. Adding
gypsum, which is cheap if you buy it at a masonry place, it will lower a
high pH some, and soften the clay soil a bit. Some manures will be sort of
high pH, but using pine needles, leaves from hardwood trees...all that'll
lower the pH...as of course will liberal amounts of soil sulfur. (Don't use
any lime!)
  Collect some rainwater and pH test it...rainwater in many areas is quite
acid (acid rain)...and if it is quite low, consider collecting and using
lots of rainwater.
 Lastly, look into those plants that like a high pH...lilac etc. For
example, while watermelons do better in an acid soil, cantaloupes do better
in a higher pH.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sheri Ann Richerson" <SheriAnnRicherson@exoticgardening.com>
To: "'Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum'"
<gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 6:49 PM
Subject: [GWL] Need Advice: Has anyone dealt with high alkaline soils?


> Since moving here I have watched corn dwarf and not develop, my roses and
> blueberries grow tinier by the year and other plants just not thrive. I
have
> added kelp, compost - both homemade and store bought and only used organic
> products. Recently it was really bothering me why my plants were doing so
> poorly, especially after the way my previous garden was so I tested the
pH.
> The pH of my soil is 8+,  pegged on a pH meter. I know the meter works, so
I
> added some sulfur and some more compost to the garden - small areas at a
> time making sure to work it in, previously I had only top dressed the soil
> thinking that would be enough. The only thing I know about the previous
> history of this yard is it was sprayed every year by a leading chemical
> company. I have lived here for four years this coming August. Can anyone
> give me some advice on why it is taking so long to get my pH adjusted and
> why it might be so alkaline? The first thing I did even before unpacking
was
> plant my garden.
>
>
>
> Do feel free to contact me off list. I live in Indiana and have red clay
for
> soil.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sheri
>
>
>
>
>
> Sheri <http://www.sheriannricherson.com/>  Ann Richerson - Author
> <http://www.sheriannricherson.com/>  of Magical
>
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013AZ9M0?&camp=212361&creative=383845&li
> nkCode=wss&tag=exoticgardeni-20>  Gardens and Perspective
>
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