What is acidic soil?

Is your soil alkaline, acidic or neutral? In this case, let’s dig deeper into what it means for your soil to be acidic. 

Let’s start at the beginning, what is pH? pH is a gauge of the hydrogen concentration in a substance. pH is measured on a scale of 1-14 with 7 as the neutral mark. pHs of 1-6 are acidic, while pHs of 8-10 are alkaline. The pH of acidic soil is raised by adding lime and the pH of alkaline soil is lowered by adding sulfur. 

Sometimes acidic soil can be referred to as sour and has a pH of less than 7. Acidic soil can normally be found in wooded areas and is the reason why several woodland plants thrive in acidic soil. During decomposition, organic matter breaks down and makes the soil more acidic. Soil could also become acidic due to the use of chemical fertilizers or the leaching out of calcium & magnesium during a big rain. pH can be lowered to create acidic soil by adding fertilizers that contain ammonium-N. pH can be raised to create less acidic soil by adding lime. 

Several plants not only prefer, but thrive in acidic soil. Hydrangeas, Daffodils, Azaleas & Tomatoes are just a few plants that prefer acidic soil. 

If you are curious about what your soil’s pH there are several DIY testing kits available at home & garden stores. You could also have a soil sample sent off to a lab for the most precise reading. We also offer free soil testing and yearly pH testing here at Turf Boss!

Give us a call at (864) 777-8873 with any questions!

By: Hannah Raines
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