My friend says her soil measures 9 on the pH scale and all her plants are dying. I looked up on the web, and most plants seem to want a neutral to slightly acid pH. What should she do to lower it? Thanks.
pH?
Two really important questions first:
1) Did your friend take a soil sample to your local extension service or a professional soil testing place? (If she did an at-home test, they're not the most reliable; I'd have it done by the folks that have the expensive equipment and can make sure the reading is accurate - I think our extension services charges $5 or $10 for a soil sample analysis.)
2) Did she prepare the soil samples correctly? It's really important to follow the proper procedures; otherwise the sample will not be an accurate indicator of the soil's pH. (I can get find you a factsheet with step-by-step process if needed.)
Assuming she prepared the sample properly AND took it to her extension service or someone with the precise metering equipment, and it really is a pH of 9, that is definitely high. Her analysis should have given recommendations on how to lower the pH, but if not, she can use fertilizers that reduce pH (look for those recommended for Azaleas, blueberries and evergreens.) One of the more popular fertilizers is ammonium sulphate. Aluminum sulphate can also be used (and may be recommended because it is more difficult to over-correct with it than Ammonium sulphate.)
But it's also important to find out WHY the soil pH is so high - it may have to do with bad gardening practices (too much lime or wood ash added "just because" or some other problem. Until the underlying problem is resolved, correcting with fertilizers is just putting a bandaid on the problem.
Ok, thanks. I'll ask her.