What is Acid Soil

The quality, fertility and soil science are not the same everywhere. This is the main reason why, soil testing is a preliminary step in every gardening project. While nearly all soil problems can be corrected with proper soil amendment approaches, detecting them is not so easy. For this, you have to conduct a thorough soil test procedure, which is best done by professional services. It helps in identifying the soil type, soil pH (acid soil or alkaline soil) and water drainage problem (if any). More information on what is acid soil and its amendment tips are explained in the next paragraphs.

Acid Soil Definition

One of the several attributes that matter in healthy plant growth and/or high crop yield is soil pH. This is because, certain plants grow well in a specific pH range. By soil pH, we mean the acidity or alkalinity levels of the particular soil sample. You can find it out by means of a simple soil pH test kit. All you need is follow the step-by-step procedure mentioned in the kit. Match the color of soil in the reference color chart, and you will come to know whether your garden soil is acidic or alkaline. Coming to what is acid soil, it is the type of soil of which the pH levels measures below 7 (neutral level).

Depending upon the actual acid soil pH reading, the soil can be further classified into mild acidic or highly acidic soil. The former refers to soil with a pH scale of about 6.5 or a bit lower, whereas highly acidic soil measures about 4-5.5. Gardeners use the pH scale 4-9; a lower or higher value than this range directly affects the growth of plants in many ways. In addition to the detrimental effects of high acidic soil on plants, another major factor is that it disturbs the balance of acid and base element of soil. In such a case, you need to prepare your garden soil before growing flowers or vegetables.

Acid Soil Amendment

Most of the flowering plant varieties, vegetables, shrubs and trees tolerate soil with near neutral pH range. Too much acidic or alkalinity impairs the growth of plants, except for some specific plants that are adapted to the extreme soil pH levels. What happens is most of the essential plant nutrients get locked in acidic soil, thus causing nutrient deficiency. Inability to release nutrients is indirectly because of the soil microbes, which are not inactive in low pH levels. Also, acidic soil is usually accompanied with water drainage problems.

Precisely speaking, acid soil amendment with lime or other correcting solutions is imperative to increase the pH level of the garden soil. Before you attempt to amend acid soil, take suggestions from a horticulturist regarding the appropriate concentration of lime that should be added in garden soil. Mix the lime deeply in the soil, and perform periodical soil pH test, as directed by the horticulture expert. Lime takes some time to stabilize the soil pH range.

Acid Soil Loving Plants

So, you have understood what is acid soil, and are worried about the acidic condition of your garden soil? You can either opt for neutralizing soil with lime and alike chemicals, or grow acid soil plants. For the latter option, find out the plants that thrive well in low soil pH. If, by mistake, you grow neutral soil or alkaline soil loving plants in acidic type of soil, they will not survive in the prevailing soil condition. Listed below are some acid soil loving plants, which you can consider growing in your yard.

• Potatoes
• Sassafras
• Calcifuge plants
• Camellia
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Rhododendrons
• Azaleas
• Blue poppy
• Common pawpaw
• Weeping willow
• River birch
• Some pines
• Red and white oak
• Crabapple
• Sweetgum
• Some hollies
• Balsam fir
• Sheep laurel
• Heather
• Chinese magnolia
• Japanese maple

This was all about what is acid soil, and what you can do to make your yard lively. Consider testing the soil pH once in every two years, so that you will come to know any changes in garden soil. That way, you can proceed with correct garden soil preparation for optimal growth and development of your garden plants.