Getting your blueberry territory pH right field is key to growing healthier and more productive plants .
Marty Baldwin
Ensuring you have the proper blueberry bush soil pH is an essential part of enjoy anabundant harvest of sweet , juicy Berry . Most gardens have a comparatively impersonal dirt pH of around 6.0 to 7.0 , but blueberry bush grow best when the soil is on the acidic side with a pH between 4.0 to 5.5 . Growing acidic soil - loving blueberry outside of this pH range can leave in stunted shrub with minimum berries , yellowing leaves , and other star sign of nutrient deficiencies .
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Use these tips to adapt soil pH horizontal surface beforeplanting blueberriesor to transfer the ground pH around existing blueberry works to the idealistic orbit . Keep in mind that it ’s easy to modify soil pH beforeplanting because you do n’t need to process around found plant etymon .
1. Choose the right growing location.
While you’re able to correct garden soil with various amendment , it ’s much easier togrow blueberriesin locations that are already well - suited for acid - bonk plants . Look around your garden and see if there ’s an area that fits the specific conditions blueberries require to spring up . Full sun to part shadelocations with acidic , arenaceous loamsoils that are well - drainingare ideal for grow blueberry .
2. Do a soil test.
land tests are recommended no matter what plant you want to turn , but they ’re particularly utile with blueberry . blueberry are picky about their soil , andsoil psychometric test permit you know if your stain needs adjustmentand which amendments to use . Soil test can be performed at home , but you ’ll get more exact results using a soil test kit from your local accommodative extension place .
3. Consider raised beds or container growing.
As useful as grunge amendment are , filth acidifying products can only modify dirt pH grade to a certain degree . If your soil pH is over 6.5 , it may be soft togrow blueberry plants in large containersor raised beds . If you go this path , pick out containers that are at least 24 inch deep by 30 column inch wide and fill them with potting mix or raised bed grease especially design for Elvis - have intercourse plants .
4. Plan ahead when lowering pH.
Elemental sulfur is ordinarily used to lour soil pH , and it isapproved for organic maturation . However , sulfur contain a few months to start working and should be apply six months to one year before you destine to plant blueberry . One way of life to use S is to apply sulfur handling in autumn and plant blueberry shrubs the following spring .
5. Apply elemental sulfur.
elementary sulfur ordinarily comes in powder figure , which can be applied by hand or with a broadcast spreader . If you ’re preparing a new planting spot , spread atomic number 16 over the earth and work it into the top 6 to 8 inch of soil with a shovel or tiller . If you already have blueberry bush growing in your garden , sprinkle atomic number 16 over the soil around the basis of the plants .
The amount of sulfur you need bet on the soil type and its current ground pH grade . In universal , to low grunge pH by 1.0 , you want :
6. Adjust soil pH slowly.
A single software of sulfur can let down soil pH by 1.0 point , but if your soil pH is very eminent , you may take to give a second sulfur treatment six months after the first software to drop the pH levels down even further .
Applying too much sulphur at once can overwhelm your soil , lead to plant tissue burn , and result in spare sulphur percolate aside when it rain down .
7. Add organic matter.
elementary atomic number 16 reduces soil pH levels , but sulfur products need to be reapplied from time to sentence . When it rains or you irrigate your garden , atomic number 16 amendments wash out away little by minuscule . Over several years , ground pH levels can become alkaline again . slow up down this process bymixing compostor other constitutive matter into the stain when you add sulfur .
8. Use fertilizer for acid-loving plants.
blueberry bush fruit more extravagantly when they ’re fertilized at least once a year . you’re able to supply blueberry bush works with the nutrients they need and keep the soil acid byusing fertilizersespecially designed for acid - loving plants . These fertilizers naturally low-toned soil pH and contain nutrients that are difficult for blueberry to take in in eminent - pH soils .
9. Monitor soil pH.
Using elementary sulfur in conjunction with constitutive matter and plant food intended for acid - loving works keeps soil pH levels down and makes your garden more hospitable to blueberry . If your garden is n’t naturally acidic , pH levels will creep back up finally , so test the soil around your blueberries per year to know whether the pH level have convert and you postulate to add more S .
Frequently Asked Questions
While coffee bean solid ground contribute nutrients to garden soil , there is no grounds that they raise soil sour . If you have neutral dirt and want to grow blueberries , elementary S is a better option .
Pine needles are naturally acidic , but they neutralize as they conk out down , and they do n’t affect filth pH levels in any significant way .
If your soil is too alkaline to support blueberry , try other yield plants . Apricot , cherry , andpeachtrees all suffer somewhat alkaline dirt .
