Viewing post #536601 by floota

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Jan 10, 2014 10:37 AM CST
Name: Julie C
Roanoke, VA (Zone 7a)
Daylilies Garden Photography Region: Virginia Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Heucheras Cat Lover
Hummingbirder Clematis Lilies Birds Garden Art Butterflies
I copied comments ( below) from an online source. It looks as if you need to start by lowering your soil PH, and that should help with all of the other trace elements, most of which are also high. I use a compost pile and turn it periodically and add organic material to the soil from the compost. Other organic which might be of help if you don't have a compost pile : ( aged manure, mushroom compost, peat moss, etc.I've used all of these before.) Also, my local nursery has a mix they call "soil conditioner" which is a mix of topsoil and old mulches mixed together. It makes wonderful loam but isn't super cheap. I've had them deliver truckloads of this to build raised beds here - we have red clay.

In a nutshell: Your best option is to add organic matter and grow plants that do well in alkaline soils.

The whole story: Technically, all soils with a pH higher than 7.0 are alkaline, or "sweet," but most garden plants tolerate a pH up to about 7.5. Alkaline soils are generally composed of basic (high pH) parent materials such as limestone (calcium carbonate). High-pH soils are more prevalent in arid climates, because rainfall does not leach the calcium and other basic materials out of the soil. Soil pH affects nutrient availability for plants, and in soils with a pH over 7.8, iron, zinc, and phosphorus deficiencies are common.

Lowering soil pH is a slow and challenging process. "The truth is, lowering soil pH is hard, because the limestone in the soil continually dissolves," says Jessica
Davis, Ph.D., a professor of soil science at Colorado State University. Davis recommends getting your soil tested to determine its pH, lime content, soil texture, and mineral and nutrient content. If the test results indicate a medium or high lime content, she recommends not trying aggressive measures to lower the soil pH.

The most aggressive way to lower soil pH is to apply pure sulfur or flowers of sulfur. You should follow your soil test's recommendations, but in general, if you are applying sulfur to an area that does not currently have any plants growing in it, such as a new garden bed, you can apply it at a higher rate than in areas with growing plants. You can also add organic matter, such as compost or composted manure, to your soil annually and mulch with acidic organic mulches, such as pine needles. Adding organic matter slowly lowers your pH over time, while increasing microbial life and improving the structure of your soil.

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