Peat has served its purpose as a soil aid for an acidic garden soil. In order for hydrangeas and ericaceous plants to thrive, natural hobby gardeners use effective home remedies that lower the pH value. Learn how to acidify alkaline soil without peat here.

Coffee makes the soil more acidic

Acidify soil with coniferous compost

Pure compost from conifer needles naturally has a low pH value. Spruce, fir, pine and other conifers provide the starting material. In the course of decomposition and hot rotting, compost is produced with a pH value below 5. Acidifying the soil with coniferous compost can be achieved in these steps:

  1. Make compost from spruce and fir needles yourself or buy them from a composting plant
  2. Spread mature coniferous compost on the ground every 2 to 4 weeks from March to October (3-5 l per m²)
  3. Work into the surface and pour over

While you are acidifying the soil with needle compost, please check the pH value regularly with a test kit from the hardware store.

Oak leaves make garden soil acidic

Crushed oak leaves can acidify the soil while they decompose as mulch ($249.00). This process takes a little more time than lowering the pH with coniferous compost. Regular mulching with chopped oak leaves not only makes the soil acidic, but also effectively suppresses annoying weeds.

Acidify soil with granite flour

Soil analysis experts advocate granite flour when hobby gardeners want to acidify the soil. Fine-grained granite flour is available from hardware stores, garden centers, Amazon or Ebay. How to lower the pH in bedding soil with granite powder:

  1. The best time is in spring on a windless day
  2. Apply granite flour by hand or with a spreader
  3. Recommended dosage: 200-300 g per m²
  4. Rake in the powder and pour in

After two to four weeks, use a pH test to see if reapplication is needed. Incidentally, granite flour is an excellent compost accelerator if you make coniferous compost yourself. Sprinkle a handful of granite flour between the piled conifer needles.

Coffee grounds lower pH

Hobby gardeners who are close to nature have discovered coffee grounds as a powerful home remedy for beds and balconies. Coffee grounds not only fight voracious snails. At the same time, the coffee grains lower the pH value in the soil and promote growth with the nitrogen they contain. How to do it right:

  • drying coffee grounds
  • Spread thinly on bedding soil or potting soil
  • Work in the coffee grains with a rake or flower claw
  • Sprinkle coffee grounds after every rain shower and watering

So that coffee grounds are not immediately washed out again, mulch with oak leaves, pine needles or needle brushwood.

tips

Hard watering torpedoes all efforts to acidify the garden soil. The high lime content causes the pH value to rise again within a short time. Regular watering with rainwater stabilizes the pH value in the low-acid range.

Category:

Garden design