pH PREFERENCES OF TREES, SHRUBS, FLOWERS, AND VEGETABLES
An accurate soil test will indicate your soil pH and 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 (azaleas, blueberries) prefer more strongly acidic soil in the 4.0 to 6.0 range, while a few (asparagus, plums) do best in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Acidic, or sour, soil (below 7.0) is counteracted by applying finely ground limestone, and alkaline, or sweet, soil (above 7.0) is treated with ground sulfur.
COMMON NAME OPTIMUM pH RANGE
TREES AND SHRUBS
Apple............ 5.0–6.5
Azalea........... 4.5–6.0
Beautybush ...... 6.0–7.5
Birch ............ 5.0–6.5
Blackberry....... 5.0–6.0
Blueberry........ 4.0–5.0
Boxwood ........ 6.0–7.5
Cherry, sour ..... 6.0–7.0
Crab apple ....... 6.0–7.5
Dogwood ........ 5.0–7.0
Fir, balsam....... 5.0–6.0
Hemlock......... 5.0–6.0
Hydrangea, blueflowered ....... 4.0–5.0
Hydrangea, pinkflowered ....... 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
Plum ............ 6.0–8.0
Raspberry, red ... 5.5–7.0
Rhododendron ... 4.5–6.0
Willow........... 6.0–8.0
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
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
Sunflower ....... 6.0–7.5
Tulip ............ 6.0–7.0
Zinnia ........... 5.5–7.0
VEGETABLES
Asparagus ....... 6.0–8.0
Bean ............ 6.0–7.5
Beet............. 6.0–7.5
Broccoli ......... 6.0–7.0
Brussels sprout... 6.0–7.5
Cabbage ......... 6.0–7.5
Carrot........... 5.5–7.0
Cauliflower ...... 5.5–7.5
Celery ........... 5.8–7.0
Chive............ 6.0–7.0
Collard .......... 6.5–7.5
Corn ............ 5.5–7.0
Cucumber ....... 5.5–7.0
Eggplant......... 6.0–7.0
Garlic ........... 5.5–8.0
Kale............. 6.0–7.5
Leek............. 6.0–8.0
Lettuce .......... 6.0–7.0
Okra ............ 6.0–7.0
Onion ........... 6.0–7.0
Pea.............. 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
Swiss chard ...... 6.0–7.0
Tomato.......... 5.5–7.5
Watermelon...... 5.5–6.5
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