Alkaline soil preparation (lots of questions)?

OK, take a deep breath and if you are not growing blueberries, an alkaline soil is not going to be an end all to your garden. 8.0 still isn't that bad.........8.2 and above, yeah, we are talking potential problems. If you are trying to grow blueberries, you need a good knock on your head.

1. The leaves are wonderful. Till in with glee as they will increase organic matter of your soil........exception is if they are from bizarre plant that sheds sodium.......but probably. Many leaves have similar pH to soil in which they grew, so don't expect a pH drop, just a good organic matter boost.

2. Peat Moss.....sphagnum peat will help lower pH for awhile.........but mainly is an organic matter provider.......see leaves above. If you have the $$, great addition, just make sure it is loose, not lumpy. Dry peat lumps are nearly impossible to wet once in the soil.

3. Coffee grounds, temporary lowers pH.........once the microorganisms munch it down. With leaf layer you probably have a good microbe level in the soil aready.......good move.

I'd do peat and coffee grounds. Now the sulfur, soil sulfur will lower pH but since your soil is naturally alklaine, you soil will always want to remain alkaline. I wouldn't be trying to lower the pH significantly (soil sulfur is hard on the microorganisms) but rather apply per plant need.......for example if you were growing roses for competition you might be fiddling with the soil more than say, a vegetable gardener.

There are other components in your soil you can't change that affect pH.........this isn't like baking a cake. You work with what you have, create a nice organic rich soil (but not more than about 7% OM or else you get boggy) and manage from there. Texture is the % sand, silt and clay.........you can't change that so you adjust with organic matter.

Soil pH affects how plants take up nutrients. It really doesn't become an issue unless the soil is extremely acidic or alklaine........yours is a bit high so you may want to experiment with sulfur or chelated iron........as the plant demands. Some plants just aren't that picky--others are very specific in their needs......blueberries for example. But then you aren't growing blueberries.....right? (you probably could but in a container with artificial soil)

You won't get a better answer than the one Fluffernut gave, that's one of the best explanations of soil pH I've seen on a garden forum.

I'd emphasize her point about organic matter, your addition of leaves and coffee grounds. Plants grown in soil with a lot of organic matter develop a more finely-branched, resilient root system. The issue with soil pH is always nutrient extraction, but plants with a better root system can do more with less, they can handle a wider pH range than plants grown in poor soil with little organic matter.

I'd use coir (cocunut husk fiber) instead of peat. If peat dries out, it's hydrophobic, it actually repels water, but coir is always hydrophilic, it soaks up moisture. Coir has a neutral pH, but the lignins in it help open up the soil structure, so plants develop that finely-branched, resilient root system.

I agree that it would probably be somewhat neutral. I also agree that you need to buy a simple soil tester. But it does depend on where you live because there are different general soil condition across the country.

Growing in soil is traditional method of growing. You can grow plants in water as well with hydroponics gardening. pH factor is most important thing in both methods. Get some hydroponics nutrients here for maintaining pH factor - http://www.advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/produ...