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New Castle, Indiana

So I've got my area all tilled up for next year. This was an unused part of my field that just had grass growing in it. So the pH looks to be on the high side (high 7's)according to my meter. I'm doing a strip test as well. I read an article here that seemed to indicate that you might as well leave it alone if it's on the high side because the plants will naturally lower it over time. So should I just leave it and test again in the spring?

10/31/2022 6:41:10 PM

New Castle, Indiana

Update: the test strip indicates it's probably closer to 8.

10/31/2022 10:26:49 PM

Colorado

Its common practice to try to adjust your soil to neutral or down to 6.5 ph. 10 lbs of elemental sulfur per 1000sq ft/season is a typical recommendation. It takes a season + for it to work and to determine the net effect. The ph of your water is also a major player.

2/14/2023 1:38:58 AM

Bethlehem CT

Hey Steve
I highly recommend going to a lab, most states have testing labs to send your soil samples to for little to no charge. The pH readings the lab gives are much more accurate than most meters you can buy at a garden center. Did you add any ammendments that could cause the pH to be so high?

2/14/2023 7:35:17 AM

Bethlehem CT

https://extension.purdue.edu/news/county/marion/2021/09/Soil-Testing-Information.html

2/14/2023 7:36:46 AM

Syracuse, NY

Read what Rick j. said which is also what I've read somewhere concerning soil's pH tenacity, right in the middle of the page, and elsewhere on the 'site there is a comment about the soil's (or water's?) alkalinity being
more important because it determines the pH's range and
perhaps its willingness to be adjusted.
Vague, I am, today---eg

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=728097

2/14/2023 9:47:34 AM

Syracuse, NY

I do not think present plants will change the pH of soil except for after hundreds of years of adding to and creating the topsoil that had to have come from millions of plants' usage of that soil's area and original topography.
Hmmm...top, top, top---eg

2/14/2023 9:52:06 AM