What is alkaline soil?

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

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 alkaline soil can be referred to as sweet and has a pH of more than 7. Alkaline soil can typically be found in areas with little rain fall such as desert areas. Soil could also become more alkaline due to lime in hard water. Alkaline soil contains heavy amounts of sodium, calcium and magnesium. It can lead to stunted growth and nutrient deficiency in plants. pH can be lowered to create less alkaline soil by adding sulfur. pH can be raised to create more alkaline soil by adding lime. 

Several weeds thrive in alkaline soil. If certain weeds pop up, it could signal that the soil is alkaline. Weeds that grow in alkaline soil include Dandelions, Chickweed, Goosefoot & Queen Anne’s Lace.

Some vegetables & flowers also thrive with slightly alkaline soil. These include Asparagus, Okra, Cucumbers, Zinnias, Hostas & Lavender. 

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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