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Maintaining acidity in a bed ?

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  • #1

    Maintaining acidity in a bed ?

    I have just about finished a retaining wall and the arrangement lends itself to adding 3 or 4 air blocks and creating a somewhat seperate, but small, bed/box.

    This bed/trough/hole/box or whatever would be about 28 inches long, 15 inches high and 18 inches wide.

    Thoughts are to fill with some soil, a bag of compost, a bag or two of ericaceous compost, the (hopefully) ericaceous compost from a large tub and replant the blueberry in the "hole". Being nearer the house and back door it may also stop the blackbird getting everything, but I doubt it.

    Question is: What can or do I need to add at intervals to maintain the heightened acidity of the soil. I was hoping not to keep adding bags of compost as that would eventually mean removing a quantity and the corresponding disturbance.
    Last edited by Kirk; 31-07-2015, 08:52 PM.
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  • #2
    It depends on what your soil is. If it is alkaline I would be inclined not to use it. If it is neutral or slightly acid it should be ok. Providing you water with rain water, not tap water, the compost should not lose its acidity. You may have to top up the bed occasionally, but no more so than for any other bed that is part compost. The problems will come if the soil (or water) you put in is alkaline, as this is usually due to limestone or chalk, which is soluble in water and will therefore gradually leach through into the ericaceous compost, neutralizing the acid.
    A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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    • #3
      You will probably have to feed, I use only a ericaceous feed on my blue berries and they have been in the same container/compost for 5 years.
      Potty by name Potty by nature.

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      • #4
        From time to time I water my blueberries with a soluble feed which is for azaleas, camelias and rhododendrons

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        • #5
          I'd be interested in an answer to this too. Could a yearly/every two years addition of sulphur not keep the acidity levels in check?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by danmow View Post
            I'd be interested in an answer to this too. Could a yearly/every two years addition of sulphur not keep the acidity levels in check?
            It would, but you need to be quite accurate that you do not under or overdo it.

            You could use a compost bin purely for fruit waste and any other acidic organic matter.

            Or you could as you have suggested, just remove the plant every couple of years, empty the small bed , refill with ericaceous compost and replant. (dormant season)
            P.S Don't forget the rainwater.
            Last edited by fishpond; 01-08-2015, 05:36 AM.
            Feed the soil, not the plants.
            (helps if you have cluckies)

            Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
            Bob

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            • #7
              Coffee grounds from the likes of St4rbucks helps maintain the acidity in soil.
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              • #8
                Rainwater really is 'Acid rain' and should keep your enclosed area acid. If you intend watering from the tap by hose or watering can you would need to check to see what the Ph of the tapwater is. I think kettle furring is a sign of alkalinity? Coffee grounds as mentioned by the big guy are an excellent topdressing.
                My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

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                • #9
                  Rainwater dissolves Carbon Dioxide as it falls creating carbonic acid, part of the natural cycle of carbon dioxide and scrubbing it from the atmosphere.

                  I recall that in my youth some forestry or other were replacing the conifers along side streams with hardwood as the water was being acidified.

                  I suppose if you have access to a lot of fresh pine needles using them as a mulch may help retain the acidity a bit.

                  A dusting of sulphur is the usual way people adjust the acidity but I haven't a clue about the amount.

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                  • #10
                    When researching for planting out my blueberries in the allotment, I stumbled across advice that said dig out a big area, fill the hole with ericacious compost (I used 50/50 with moss peat), water with rainwater only and add 1-2 inches of ericacious compost as a mulch every year which would keep the surrounding area acidic enough.
                    Seems ok so far!
                    <*}}}>< Jonathan ><{{{*>

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                    • #11
                      As I will have a "box" and the base is also concete it is, or will be, somewhat enclosed. I happen to have a blueberry ahd the thought was simply to drop it into this "box" and give it a bit more space.

                      I would not have decided on this until I found that in whatever state of mind several years back I laid the base wider then I thought. Sort of 24" wide, or a bit more.

                      2 sides are stone, 1 side is brick, so if I cement in a back "wall" of air block (only need 2) then I have a box isolated and so a nice big hole for the blueberry.

                      Seem to recall that sawdust also acidifies soil?

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                      • #12
                        Cut down on alcohol, exercise more.
                        Oh sorry, you said Acidity.
                        Must put my specs on.
                        Sent from my pc cos I don't have an i-phone.

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                        • #13
                          "Seem to recall that sawdust also acidifies soil?
                          It would certainly rob the soil of nitrogen as it rots down.
                          Feed the soil, not the plants.
                          (helps if you have cluckies)

                          Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
                          Bob

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