does soil ph lower after it is used up bye the plants?

Question

i have a lawn .... i ve grown glads there. the land has ph 8 but i used fertilizer to get normal ph for glads. should i check ph next time ....for planting same plant. or dierectly use fertilizer.does soil ph fix to 8 again .... and how.

Answer 1

First of all, the fertilizer will have a very, very limited effect on the soil pH. Fertilizer is for soil nutrients, not pH change.

Changing the soil pH in alkaline soils isn't easy. You'd need to have a soil test done by your state university or a private soil lab to get the cation exchange capacity number....the cec. From there we could determine if adding something like sulfur would lower the pH.

Even then the change could be shortlived.

So instead concentrate on making a good soil for the glads. Well drained so the corms don't rot. Organic matter is preferred...compost or sphagnum peatmoss.

Fertile soil, have the phosphorus already in the soil at planting such as from superphposhate. Fertilize at planting or as the leaves emerge.

Keep the beds evenly moist or allow to dry slightly between waterings. Never keep the beds wet or else you'll rot the corms.

Answer 2

At a Ph of 8 I would be worried about all my plants. That is way out of range and basic clay. The Glads can be grown in above ground planters until you solve your basic problem.
Rent a core/plug aeration machine this spring and fall. Set the depth to at least three inches. Run the machine over the turf east to west, north to south, ne to sw, and se to nw. For a week it may look like a mess but you'll love the results. Do this again in Mid-September.
Purchase a cyclone type, not drop, spreader and apply a granular Gypsum after the aeration. Apply at about 2lbs per 1,000 sq ft. This will start to provide the drainage the clay does not. Unless you rototill and incorporate a Sphagnum Moss and topsoil, apply a BoneMeal granular (if available) or the messy powder after the Gypsum. Water it immediately.
To change a soils PH level is a long-term project as it does not want to change. Low Ph, High Ph, Ideal Ph can be changed for a season (spring, fall,etc.), but eventually will revert to its origin. Most soil change compounds take up to a year to become truly effective. You want a true 6-6.5 Ph for most plants to be healthy.

You can contact me at [e-mail]. Good Luck.