Vegetable Garden's Soil Too Acidic? Lower It With These Tips
If your garden's soil is too acidic to grow healthy vegetables, find ways to lower it now. Soil that's too acidic can cause magnesium and other types of nutrients to increase too much and affect the health of your vegetables. You can learn more about the acid in your garden and how to lower it below.
How Does High Acidity Affect Your Plants?
Although many vegetables thrive in acidic soil, some vegetables only grow well in neutral soil. High acidity levels may damage or kill your plants before they have a chance to grow. If you depend on your vegetables throughout the year, it may affect your diet and health.
Acidic soil may also increase the levels of magnesium in the soil. Although plants need magnesium to flourish and be healthy, too much magnesium can cause other nutrients to decrease. The nutrient can leach or lower the calcium levels in your vegetables. Calcium helps plant roots grow properly. Without enough calcium in the soil or plants' leaves, your vegetables can become stunted or not grow at all.
You can lower the acid levels in your garden's soil with the right help.
How Do You Make Your Soil Less Acidic?
One of the ways to lower your soil's acidity levels is to place limestone in your garden. Limestone is a natural sedimentary rock used in many applications, including home and gardening settings. Limestone can lower or neutralize your soil's acid content and keep magnesium and other nutrients from increasing to unsafe levels.
There are two types of limestone to choose from: agricultural and dolomite. Because agricultural limestone doesn't contain magnesium, it may be the best choice for your particular garden. Dolomite limestone is high in calcium and magnesium.
You can apply limestone to your garden directly by mixing it with the soil, or you can sprinkle it over the soil. Be sure to follow the application instructions on your limestone's packaging for the best results. If you have questions about how to use limestone for your garden's soil properly, consult with a home and gardening supplier.
After you apply your limestone, monitor the acidity levels of your garden's soil. You can use a soil tester or have someone test it for you. If the acidity levels increase, add more limestone to your soil.
If you have any concerns about limestone or how it works, contact a home and gardening specialist now.
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