Before trying to raise your soil’s ph, it’s a good idea to determine whether there’s a real need for it in the first place.

The easiest way to find out is through a soil test or a simple ph test. Once ya know your starting point, you can make informed decisions and avoid creating unnecessary imbalances in the soil.

If yer soil does need a higher ph, agricultural lime is the most common solution. However, biochar, certain types of wood ash and the regular addition of organic matter can also help improve soil structure and gradually influence soil chemistry over time.

I try not to think of soil as something that needs to be quickly “fixed.”

Instead, I view soil health as a long term project where ph is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The goal isn’t to chase a specific number on a test result. It’s to build livin’ soil where plants, microorganisms, earthworms and countless other forms of soil life work together over time.

When that happens, healthy growth often follows naturally.

One of the best things a gardener can do is understand what’s already happening beneath the surface.

A simple soil test can provide valuable information and often prevent unnecessary amendments that may do more harm than good. Sometimes the best action is not changing the soil at all.

Fredrik 🌱