Story: Soil PH Basics
Episode: 5
Presenter: Shontelle Sinclaire
Air Date: 30th March 2024

Shontelle gets scientific with soils, telling us why you should be testing and adjusting your soil PH.

• Planting season is here, so it’s time to enrich soils with compost, mulch, and fertilizers before winter.
• Soil components like rocks, minerals, and organics influence pH, affecting nutrient availability for plants, so it’s a good idea to test your soil PH using a soil testing kit or electric probe before adding amendments.
• Optimal PH range for nutrient uptake is between 6.5 and 7.5, where all nutrients are available.
• High PH (alkaline) soil is common in coastal areas or where limestone is present, and is suitable for plants like rosemary and lavender.
• You can correct alkaline soil by increasing acidity with sulphur-based fertilisers or organic materials.
• Low PH (acidic) soil may occur naturally or with the application of organics, and suitable for plants like blueberries and camellias.
• You can correct acidic soil by raising the PH with lime-based products, such as calcium carbonate or dolomite lime.
• Testing soil PH before planting or applying fertilizers is always a good idea, as pH can change over time and different plants thrive in different conditions.