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EmailAn accurate soil test will indicate your soil's pH level will specify the amount of lime or sulfur that is needed to bring it up or down to the appropriate level. A pH of 6.5 is just about right for most home gardens, since most plants thrive in the 6.0 to 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral) range. Some plants (blueberries, azaleas) prefer more strongly acidic soil, while a few (ferns, asparagus) do best in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Acidic (sour) soil is counteracted by applying finely ground limestone, and alkaline (sweet) soil is treated with gypsum (calcium sulfate) or ground sulfur.
| Common Name | Optimum pH Range |
|---|---|
| Trees and Shrubs | |
| Apple | 5.0-6.5 |
| Ash | 6.0-7.5 |
| Azalea | 4.5-6.0 |
| Basswood | 6.0-7.5 |
| Beautybush | 6.0-7.5 |
| Birch | 5.0-6.5 |
| Blackberry | 5.0-6.0 |
| Blueberry | 4.0-6.0 |
| Boxwood | 6.0-7.5 |
| Cherry, sour | 6.0-7.0 |
| Chestnut | 5.0-6.5 |
| Crab apple | 6.0-7.5 |
| Dogwood | 5.0-7.0 |
| Elder, box | 6.0-8.0 |
| Fir, balsam | 5.0-6.0 |
| Fir, Douglas | 6.0-7.0 |
| Hemlock | 5.0-6.0 |
| Hydrangea, blue-flowered | 4.0-5.0 |
| Hydrangea, pink-flowered | 6.0-7.0 |
| Juniper | 5.0-6.0 |
| Laurel, mountain | 4.5-6.0 |
| Lemon | 6.0-7.5 |
| Lilac | 6.0-7.5 |
| Maple, sugar | 6.0-7.5 |
| Oak, white | 5.0-6.5 |
| Orange | 6.0-7.5 |
| Peach | 6.0-7.0 |
| Pear | 6.0-7.5 |
| Pecan | 6.4-8.0 |
| Pine, red | 5.0-6.0 |
| Pine, white | 4.5-6.0 |
| Plum | 6.0-8.0 |
| Raspberry, red | 5.5-7.0 |
| Rhododendron | 4.5-6.0 |
| Spruce | 5.0-6.0 |
| Walnut, black | 6.0-8.0 |
| Willow | 6.0-8.0 |
| Vegetables | |
| Asparagus | 6.0-8.0 |
| Bean, pole | 6.0-7.5 |
| Beet | 6.0-7.5 |
| Broccoli | 6.0-7.0 |
| Brussels sprout | 6.0-7.5 |
| Cabbage | 6.0-7.0 |
| Carrot | 5.5-7.0 |
| Cauliflower | 5.5-7.5 |
| Celery | 5.8-7.0 |
| Chive | 6.0-7.0 |
| Cucumber | 5.5-7.0 |
| Garlic | 5.5-8.0 |
| Kale | 6.0-7.5 |
| Lettuce | 6.0-7.0 |
| Pea, sweet | 6.0-7.5 |
| Pepper, sweet | 5.5-7.0 |
| Potato | 4.8-6.5 |
| Pumpkin | 5.5-7.5 |
| Radish | 6.0-7.0 |
| Spinach | 6.0-7.5 |
| Squash, crookneck | 6.0-7.5 |
| Squash, Hubbard | 5.5-7.0 |
| Tomato | 5.5-7.5 |
| Flowers | |
| Alyssum | 6.0-7.5 |
| Aster, New England | 6.0-8.0 |
| Baby's breath | 6.0-7.0 |
| Bachelor's button | 6.0-7.5 |
| Bee balm | 6.0-7.5 |
| Begonia | 5.5-7.0 |
| Black-eyed Susan | 5.5-7.0 |
| Bleeding heart | 6.0-7.5 |
| Canna | 6.0-8.0 |
| Carnation | 6.0-7.0 |
| Chrysanthemum | 6.0-7.5 |
| Clematis | 5.5-7.0 |
| Coleus | 6.0-7.0 |
| Coneflower, purple | 5.0-7.5 |
| Cosmos | 5.0-8.0 |
| Crocus | 6.0-8.0 |
| Daffodil | 6.0-6.5 |
| Dahlia | 6.0-7.5 |
| Daisy, Shasta | 6.0-8.0 |
| Daylily | 6.0-8.0 |
| Delphinium | 6.0-7.5 |
| Foxglove | 6.0-7.5 |
| Geranium | 6.0-8.0 |
| Gladiolus | 5.0-7.0 |
| Hibiscus | 6.0-8.0 |
| Hollyhock | 6.0-8.0 |
| Hyacinth | 6.5-7.5 |
| Iris, blue flag | 5.0-7.5 |
| Lily-of-the-valley | 4.5-6.0 |
| Lupine | 5.0-6.5 |
| Marigold | 5.5-7.5 |
| Morning glory | 6.0-7.5 |
| Narcissus, trumpet | 5.5-6.5 |
| Nasturtium | 5.5-7.5 |
| Pansy | 5.5-6.5 |
| Peony | 6.0-7.5 |
| Petunia | 6.0-7.5 |
| Phlox, summer | 6.0-8.0 |
| Poppy, oriental | 6.0-7.5 |
| Rose, hybrid tea | 5.5-7.0 |
| Rose, rugosa | 6.0-7.0 |
| Snapdragon | 5.5-7.0 |
| Sunflower | 6.0-7.5 |
| Tulip | 6.0-7.0 |
| Zinnia | 5.5-7.0 |
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Comments
In Oct. I placed my own
In Oct. I placed my own composit on my Raspberry plants. Then in Nov, spread some pine needles on the bed. I have some Manure in a bag from the store. Would it be safe to spread a little of that also? I have had a decrease in my rasp. production in the last few years so I have been trying to figure out what the cause is. I would appreciate any help. Also how can I have the soil tested?
You can usually get a soil
You can usually get a soil test kit from your local county extension office, and they will recommend any amendments that your soil may need. Wait to add the manure until you get the results from the soil test. Also make sure that your raspberries are not too crowded. You may need to prune out some of the old plants.
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