I started preparing a 30 ft row for blueberries this past spring. Plan is to plant next spring. I amended with pine bark fines and peat mixed into native soil. Put an application of elemental sulfur to lower ph. From my home test I believed it to be around 6.5. I just sent a sample out and got back that my ph is 6.28. Was hoping for a little more movement on that. Maybe the sulfur just needs more time to work? Also my nitrogen level has me concerned. Anybody have any recommendations for improving it?
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It may take longer for the Sulfur to do its thing.Possibly more could be added.Correction can made with lime,if the pH goes too low.
Nitrogen can be supplied,after the plants are in,by using Ammonium Sulfate,which will also up the acid.
Don’t forget that it’s a moving target in another respect; the decomposing pine bark fines should steadily increase acidity too.
You are pretty close. Time is on your side. Maybe leave well enough alone?
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Elemental sulfur needs to be oxidized by microbes to exert its effect on lowering the pH. I would wait and check again next year (can do with narrow range pH paper). Also, if you add a significant amount of peat, then you’ll get regions of low pH around the peat regions (as well as around the sulfur particles), which the blueberry roots can use for optimal nutrient absorption. You can also use ammonium sulfate for nitrogen fertilizer, which will help to lower the pH.
I gave up on using native soil. Too hard to maintain pH. I now have pure beds of peat and pine and even those become basic with time as they compost. In ten years I added sulfur four times. It is working though. I would build raised beds and only use peat and pine at a one to one ratio. Add sulfur every other year starting at third year.
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