| The pH scale measures whether
your soil is acid or alkaline. It ranges from 1 which is extremely acid to 14 which is extremely alkaline. The best range for plants is the middle range, 5.5 to 7.5 A pH of 7 is "neutral". This does not mean it is not acid or alkali but a happy balance. If your plants are healthy and growing well it is a good indication that your pH is fine. (and you need not worry too much about soil pH) I don't. If, however, you are doing all the right things, feeding and mulching and watering, and your plants are not responding it may be that your pH level needs adjusting. In soils that are too acid or too alkali, some elements become unavailable to plants; soil bacteria stop working and are unable to break down matter to release the nutrients your plants require for good health, (even though the nutrients are in the soil). Some elements build up to toxic levels. To correct a too acid soil you add lime. To correct a too alkali soil you add Flowers of sulphur. How much you add depends on how acid or alkali your soil is and your soil type (sand, clay, loam) Soil test kits can be purchased from most produce stores and cost around $17.00. They give detailed instructions on the correction of pH levels and ideal pH ranges for most plants.
NATURAL SOURCES OF TRACE ELEMENTS FOR COMPOSTING
CABBAGE LEAVES
STINGING NETTLE, COMPOST, DANDELION, HORSE MANURE, SPINACH
BEETROOT LEAVES, HORSE MANURE, COMPOST, SEAGRASS, UNTREATED SAWDUST
CHICK WEED, COMPOST, UNTREATED SAWDUST
STINGING NETTLE, YARROW, DANDELION, CHICK WEED, HORSE MANURE, COMPOST, UNTREATED SAWDUST
HORSE MANURE, CORN STALKS, COMPOST, UNTREATED SAWDUST
DANDELION, LUCERNE HAY, COMFREY, HORSE MANURE, COMPOST, SEAGRASS, BLOOD & BONE
CORNSTALKS, COMPOST, GRASS CLIPPINGS
BIRD MANURE, BLOOD & BONE, GRASS CLIPPINGS
COMFREY, SEAGRASS, HORSE MANURE, BLOOD & BONE
COMFREY, HORSE MANURE, SEAGRASS
GRASS CLIPPINGS, SEAGRASS |
