Homemade Soil Acidifier Tricks

Compost

• Homemade compost from kitchen scraps and yard debris is almost always on the acid side, so mixing it in equal parts with the soil is a good way to acidify. You can test the pH of both the soil and your compost with a simple, inexpensive soil-test kit, available at garden stores. Most university extension services will perform more accurate and thorough testing for a nominal fee.

Home Byproducts

• Wood chips from tree cutting and sawdust from home construction projects can be added to soil to acidify it. Adding wood ashes from the fireplace also helps raise the soil's acidity because ashes are high in potassium.

Sulfur

• Sulfur, which is inexpensive and available in dry form at nurseries, can be mixed into the planting hole to acidify the soil when you are planting an acid-loving plant. For established plants, sprinkle a handful of sulfur on top of the soil around the base of the plant and water it in.

Mulch

• Mulching around plants each year in spring and fall with acidic materials is another way of acidifying soil. Use readily available materials such as compost, coffee grounds, pine needles or shredded oak leaves.