How Do You Make Alkaline Soil Acidic?
Plants typically thrive in alkaline, or basic, soil. Alkaline soil that has a pH of 7.5 to 14. Plants such as azaleas, pine trees and blueberries, however, prefer acidic soil, which measures 1.0 to 6.5 on the pH scale. If you want to plant acid-loving plants, but have alkaline soil, you can change your soil’s pH. The best time to change the pH is in September, after the growing season. Step 1 Till your soil until it is loose and powdery. For small areas, a hand tiller will do. For larger areas, use a motorized tiller. Step 2 Spread spagnum peat over the area. Toss handfuls evenly over the soil and rake them into the soil with short, even strokes of a rake. Step 3 Toss granular sulfur evenly over the area. Sprinkle handfuls all over the tilled ground and rake it in as with the peat. If you want to acidify a large area, using only sulfur is less expensive than using both sulfur and peat. Step 4 Sprinkle a 1-inch layer of pine needles, pine straw or pine bark mulch over the area. Pine mat
