Using as much rain water as you can is also a good strategy if your soil is too alkaline, which is common in flat valley and city areas in California. Rain water has a pH of about 5 while tap water has a pH of about 7.5. The roof gutter is an efficient way to collect extra rain water.
It's apparently illegal in 4 states (Utah is one, where I am) to "collect rainwater"! I'll have to research gutter/roof water; surely I can divert that -- can I collect + store it? Don't yet know..
Thanks Jag! The PH levels information is exactly what I needed at this point. Thank you so much for sharing your time, knowledge and how to apply your time tested ideas to our gardens. It really does help from having larger issues. Thanks!
DO NOT till your wood chips into your soil!!! You will strip the nitrogen from the soil!!!! I had a buddy of mine till them in and he had to go two years before he could grow anything in it! Build your soil up always. Just put them on top and thick. Glad you mentioned it!
You should till the chips in at the end of the year. Nitrogen is the easiest and cheapest element to increase in the garden soil. Seasoned Wood chips add more benefits than it what it removes nitrogen. Rain is one thing that is free and adds nitrogen, among many things, including making green composite tea using multiple weed leaves. ❤
I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, show this also to thy servant: whether after death, as soon as every one of us yields up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when thou wilt renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?" 76 He answered me and said, "I will show you that also, but do not be associated with those who have shown scorn, nor number yourself among those who are tormented. 77 For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High; but it will not be shown to you until the last times. 78 Now, concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it adores the glory of the Most High. 79 And if it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the way of the Most High, and who have despised his law, and who have hated those who fear the Most High -- 80 such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately wander about in torments, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. 81 The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High. 82 The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance that they may live. 83 The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have trusted the covenants of the Most High. 84 The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days. 85 The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are guarded by angels in profound quiet. 86 The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will pass over into torments. 87 The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times. 88 "Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body. 89 During the time that they lived in it, they laboriously served the Most High, and withstood danger every hour, that they might keep the law of the Lawgiver perfectly. 90 Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: 91 First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders. 92 The first order, because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought which was formed with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death. 93 The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the unrighteous wander, and the punishment that awaits them. 94 The third order, they see the witness which he who formed them bears concerning them, that while they were alive they kept the law which was given them in trust. 95 The fourth order, they understand the rest which they now enjoy, being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, and the glory which awaits them in the last days. 96 The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible, and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see the straits and toil from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty which they are to receive and enjoy in immortality. 97 The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face is to shine like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on. 98 The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified. 99 This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is announced; and the aforesaid are the ways of torment which those who would not give heed shall suffer hereafter." 100 I answered and said, "Will time therefore be given to the souls, after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have described to me?" 101 He said to me, "They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations." 102 I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, show further to me, thy servant, whether on the day of judgment the righteous will be able to intercede for the unrighteous or to entreat the Most High for them, 103 fathers for sons or sons for parents, brothers for brothers, relatives for their kinsmen, or friends for those who are most dear." 104 He answered me and said, "Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is decisive and displays to all the seal of truth. Just as now a father does not send his son, or a son his father, or a master his servant, or a friend his dearest friend, to be ill or sleep or eat or be healed in his stead, 105 so no one shall ever pray for another on that day, neither shall any one lay a burden on another; for then every one shall bear his own righteousness and unrighteousness." .....2 Esdras 7:75 /////////////////////
Nobody I know thinks in terms of "Sandy or Clay" type soils anymore. Everyone is making soil using mixes from bagged mix and adding organic peat, worm castings, various amendments, and lots of coir and perlite. Perhaps an update speaking to raised bed, wicking bed, etc. would spread your knowledge and help thousands.
The cheapest and effective way to lower the soil pH is to add elemental sulfur to the soil twice a year, Soil bacteria change the sulfur to sulfuric acid, lowering the soil pH and it takes 3-6 months for it to work. You need to be very patient anout it. Pine needle or woodchip are not acidic, can not lower your soil PH level. Vinegar can lower the soil PH level but in very sort time only. please bear in mind that put Vinegar in your soil can kill your garden earthworks and microbes. Please do more serch yourself😮
While all this is great information, for those of us that container garden. It doesn’t help me a bit. I have pots ranging from 1 gallon to 15 gallon and they’re all at different pH levels. Most of them are around five and some need to be around six and seven, but I’m scared to put lime in, because they say it takes months for it to work. What do I do now to help my containers without overdoing it?
From what I learned in high school General Science class I knew that if I used vinegar, I could acidify my soil. But...Thank you for helping with the measurement. I was conservative (1/4 cup to 2 gallons water), and now I feel more comfortable. Great information Jag!
My question is my tester says soil fertilty is ideal. Moisture is ideal. But the ph is not good. It's not even measuring. How is the soil ideally spot on but it's so low it doesn't even measure ph it's on the alkaline side and so much in the red that it doesn't measure.
add distilled water to a tall glass as deep as the ph test probe and add vineger until it reads on the meter so the meter reads more as the vinager level is increased meter works so now do soil test and same result ph is on high side alkaline above say 8 wont read above
Veerji I'm in SoCal. Whats a good Ph level for mango trees ? I have young mango trees with browning leafs and some mango trees 7-8yrs old which still haven't fruited. Please advise thank you.
Love your videos . Most I've watched to learn how to grow blueberries seem to be selling fertilizers in bags. Going to try the arbourist who comes every year. I would never have thought of it. Thank You so much.
If you want to increase water for a small plant in a pot..2waters with the usual amount now on third watering increase..an see how it does the amount of water is is important.,so u can adjust yhe amount if neded on the increase..steady as she goesss😮😮😊😊
Very nice explanation, best that I have seen so far, can you recomend some book where this kind of knowledge can be found ? If not maybe you can write a book, I will buy it :)
So i planted a peach tree and when i planted it i used a lil compost and the dirt that was in my yard( sandy) but my ph level is at 7.5 ... should i use fish fertilizer or use vinegar? Im kind of lost don't even know if i need to fertilize?
Since the pH is a logarithmic scale the amount to be added to lower 1 point wouldn't depend on the initial pH? Wouldn't it be less around 7 like in any titration?
Thanks for this info. I do have a question - I've always heard that pine needles make the soil more acidic. However, I have also read that this is a myth. I have alkaline soil and believe some of my trees are suffering from chlorosis. I also have access to a lot of pine needles. I'm wondering if you think pine needles would be a good way to help with my chlorosis issue. The issue appears to be affecting my oak trees...
I was just trying to figure out how to contact you. I was wondering how you find out the PH of your soil, but it looks like you use what I use. I wasn't sure if it was accurate.
Sir may I ask if carbonized rice hull would bring down pH level or do good for blueberry plant? What would be the mix percentage? Thank you. From Philippines
Does it matter what kind of trees the chip soil comes from? Can I use saw dust? I live in a forested area with mostly fir and pine trees. Can I use what I have around?
Dry brown pine needles has very little use as raising acidity for blue berries. BUT the ones that are green and still on the tree has more useful as they have more acidity within
Great video Jag! That was a lot packed into a short time, but a great resource to come back and watch again and again for specific areas of the garden, and target those areas with what works. Question: how far from one garden bed to another should an acidic soil be from an alkaline? Can they be next to each other, or will there be some leaching of soils? Im asking for those that plant in-ground as opposed to in raised garden beds. Excellent video!
