Have you heard of the right pH of the soil?

[cococrab]

Have you heard the right ph of the soil? What does ph mean? And what is the importance of having the right pH?

[sakura]

Soil pH is basically knowing if your soil is acidic or alkaline. It's values are measured on a scale of 1 (being the most acid) to 14 (being the most alkaline). 7 is considered neutral.

The pH level of your soil influences the nutrients that are available for your plants as well as the types of plants that can grow in your garden. Some plants like soil that's more acidic, while some prefer if there's more alkaline in them. MOst plants grow fine at the pH range of 6.5 to 7.2. In these levels, nutrients are more available for the plants. A soil test will help you find out what your soil's pH value.

Here's a very informative thread about soil pH here in the Gardening Channel: Soil PH

[Luna]

As sakura said, the soil's pH balance helps in making your plants grow more effectively. Some plants like if the soil is more acid, while others prefer to have more alkaline. Depending on what you're growing, knowing your soil's pH balance can help your plants and make gardening easier for you.

It's also possible to change your soil's pH balance by adding nutrients that will turn it from lots to acid to lots of alkaline or vice versa.

[cosmic_girl]

pH balance affects the plants & how they grow. I read somewhere (I think in this forum as well) that depending if it's acidic or more alkaline, it can change the color of hydrangeas.

[fleurdelys]

Testing your soil's pH is pretty easy. Most garden & lawn care shops sell kits that are easy to use and would give you a pretty accurate reading of your soil's pH. You might need to check several spots around your garden or lawn to ensure that it has roughly the same pH in all areas. If you treat one part of your garden/lawn for pesticides or other treatment, the pH balance would differ.

[arianne]

Is it necessary for one to check a soil's pH before planting anything, or would it be ok to proceed with planting without doing so?

I haven't really checked my soil's pH but so far, I don't see anything going wrong with my plants.

[leehydro007]

Originally Posted by cococrab

Have you heard the right ph of the soil? What does ph mean? And what is the importance of having the right pH?

it depends on what we are planting...like for example i have heard that The ideal pH values for vegetable garden soils are 6.0 to 6.5. Vegetable plants do not grow well in acid soils with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 or in alkaline soils with a pH above 7.5....again it depends on what we are planting...