Re: How to acidify soil

My siol in Michigan is quite alkaline too.  What I am doing is building
mounded beds using bulk "50-50" mix from a local nursery.  It is 50% topsoil
and 50% peat.  You can use soil sulphur and acidifying fertilizer, but soil
any organic mater in the soil will buffer, or restrict changes in pH, so I
don't think they are terribly effective.  In effect, I am changing the soil
to get around that.  Since most of the plants I am concerned with have
shallow root systems (rhodo's, etc) the mounds don't need to be very high.
Secondary benefits are much improved drainage in the root zone, and a high
level of organic matter, which these plants love.  Over a long period of
time I expect my new soil will loose acidity too, but I think it will take
many years.

>> Since you folks know just about everything, can you give me some ideas
for
>> acidifying soil?  I just started growing rhodos and heather, all of which
>> require acidic soil.  Also, my mother (who lurks on this mailing list) is
>> hoping to experiment with hardy cyclamen this summer and will need the
>same conditions for this venture.


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