Omg! I finally get it! It was the chart-I can finally see it and it’s not just a bunch of jumbled numbers in my head. Thank you! Your last name is real familiar where I’m originally from-Southeastern Virginia, specifically Williamsburg, but I spent a lot of time in Gloucester and Mathews Counties. Anyway, thanks for the great explanation of pH!
Been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now. Want to thank you for all the great information. You have been a tremendous help and resource. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Jim. My husband had just about reached the end of his rope, so to speak, in trying to get our previously productive high-bush blueberry plants to start giving good harvests again. Two years ago, he pruned back severely, and we got almost no berries. Last fall, I mulched with the copious amounts of pine needles we have on our Connecticut property. (I retired from work about that time.). This spring, he put down ammonium sulfate, designed especially for blueberries. Again, a disappointing crop -only ONE of 12 bushes produced berries worth a spit. I put down straight garden sulfur, and the pH has still barely budged off of 6.5 to 7. Finally cut down 4 non-productive plants, started about 20 slips from the best bush, bought 3 new bushes and got one to "take" this summer....moved the others into very large fabric pots with 4 parts aged fir bark to 1 part peat moss and will try to "baby" them through the winter......and am pre-preparing built-up areas to put them into next spring (you know, so that they will have "dry feet"......you can guess by all this that we LOVE blueberries or we would have given up by now! Unfortunately, we have no idea whatsoever how old these shrubs are. They were here, covered and choked by non-producing wild grape vines when we bought the place 9 years ago.
I have shared this video with many fellow gardeners who want to better understand pH. I have also watched it quite a few times myself. Now I'm getting ready to draw this chart in my gardening notes, because it is so helpful to me.
I've been following you for about a year and have enjoyed you videos. Funnily enough, this video was referenced in the University Of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) in the landscape design course I'm taking (Soil and Plant Growth). A nice surprise to learn something different from you!
HortTube with Jim Putnam Not at all. I've noticed while looking for shrubs for an empty flower bed that most of the tags indicate that they prefer acidic soils. I had no understanding of why til watching this. Thanks for taking the time to explain it.
This is SO helpful to me. I have been aware of a plant having definite pH preferences, but this chart helps me understand WHY. Thanks for such good information. Your videos always help us be more informed.
This is the best explanation of soil ph I've found! So thankful 😀. Can you tell me where I may get that ph meter you showed? Is that what you call it? Thanks
Terrific vid! I've been trying to figure out if sulfur was the thing to use on a market garden. I don't want to use the aluminum sulfate. I think I might try a mix of pine bark fines, and a reduced dose of sulfur.
Now I know why my gardenias failed a few years ago. I mixed in peat moss and organic fertilizer to the soil this time around, so hopefully they like the acidity they’ll get from the iron they were incapable of getting before! Thanks for the info 😊
Test the PH of your water, too. I found our municipal water and well water at a PH of 9. It was killing my acid loving plants. I now have a microdosing system that acidifies our well water in the irrigation line bringing it to 6.5 PH. The plants thrive.
This was a great mini course in ph requirements . Your chart was perfect! I’ll be sending this to my poor brother who is stuck with an acre of land on which nothing survives except his lawn):
Enjoyed your lesson on ph and how that is the foundation for a healthy lawn. I checked your links for product information and they are no longer working. I would like to know the brand of soil tester you have. Thanks!
I have my own water well which tests 8-8.5 ph. Should I make adjustments to my soil? All my gardening is done in pots or grow bags which I have filled with commercial potting mix like miracle grow.
Great video1 what can I do to change the PH of my soil in a particular area? I think this is the most important thing I can learn. any type of example would be helpful
Probably one of the best ways to better your pH all the way around is to add compost to your soil, only speaking in-ground planting, not container planting. I only use Black Kow topsoil (which is what I refer to as black gold) to amend my beds. I've used it for 15 years or more. Not sure how available it is in all areas of the U.S. and elsewhere, but I highly recommend it to everyone i speak gardening to. After digging my new spot for my flower, vegetable, shrub, etc., I add lots and lots of the Black Kow and then plant my flower, etc. to the new area. Once a month or so, I will also top dress the area with an inch or so of the fresh, new Black Kow topsoil. It does dramatically help to retain the plant's moisture, but I've never had a problem with it keeping my plants too wet, however, I do live in the hot south. Another great route, is using Espoma's Holly-tone when planting new. It can also be added to plants already established, simply sprinkle it on. It is great for alkaline soils, and works wonders. Actually contains poultry manure, and smells to high heaven, but literally works to break down hard, difficult, sad soil. It's also very affordable. I use both methods, and lots of Jim Putnam's advice, of course :), and have been extremely blessed with gorgeous, gorgeous gardens... Hope this helps some!
I see my problem now. I’ve been adding iron to green up my plants but the ph is to high. I paid the university to test my soil and somehow something I did raised it. Elemental sulfur here you come.
Great video. If you would have put up a perfectly drawn chart, it would have gone in one eye and out the other and stuck nowhere in between. But I will have a real hard time getting all that scribbling out of my mind! :-)
This is by far the most helpful explanation I've seen of this, thank you!
Omg! I finally get it! It was the chart-I can finally see it and it’s not just a bunch of jumbled numbers in my head. Thank you! Your last name is real familiar where I’m originally from-Southeastern Virginia, specifically Williamsburg, but I spent a lot of time in Gloucester and Mathews Counties. Anyway, thanks for the great explanation of pH!
This makes gardening much less intimidating to a beginning Gardner. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now. Want to thank you for all the great information. You have been a tremendous help and resource. Thanks so much!
Glad to help. Thanks for watching.
Great explanation! I was searching for what deficiencies my plants have and how to fix it. Now I got it. Thanks a lot :-)
Thanks for watching
Thanks, Jim.
My husband had just about reached the end of his rope, so to speak, in trying to get our previously productive high-bush blueberry plants to start giving good harvests again. Two years ago, he pruned back severely, and we got almost no berries. Last fall, I mulched with the copious amounts of pine needles we have on our Connecticut property. (I retired from work about that time.). This spring, he put down ammonium sulfate, designed especially for blueberries. Again, a disappointing crop -only ONE of 12 bushes produced berries worth a spit.
I put down straight garden sulfur, and the pH has still barely budged off of 6.5 to 7.
Finally cut down 4 non-productive plants, started about 20 slips from the best bush, bought 3 new bushes and got one to "take" this summer....moved the others into very large fabric pots with 4 parts aged fir bark to 1 part peat moss and will try to "baby" them through the winter......and am pre-preparing built-up areas to put them into next spring (you know, so that they will have "dry feet"......you can guess by all this that we LOVE blueberries or we would have given up by now! Unfortunately, we have no idea whatsoever how old these shrubs are. They were here, covered and choked by non-producing wild grape vines when we bought the place 9 years ago.
So well explained for a novice like myself who. I have a photographic memory, so the 'visual' is so helpful. Thank-you.
I have shared this video with many fellow gardeners who want to better understand pH. I have also watched it quite a few times myself. Now I'm getting ready to draw this chart in my gardening notes, because it is so helpful to me.
I've been following you for about a year and have enjoyed you videos. Funnily enough, this video was referenced in the University Of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) in the landscape design course I'm taking (Soil and Plant Growth). A nice surprise to learn something different from you!
Jim this is so helpful. I screen shot the chart for future reference :) As always, Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Now it makes sense! Thanks for breaking it down. Nice succulents in that window, too.
+Melanie Wallace Thanks. I was worried I would just confuse people
HortTube with Jim Putnam Not at all. I've noticed while looking for shrubs for an empty flower bed that most of the tags indicate that they prefer acidic soils. I had no understanding of why til watching this. Thanks for taking the time to explain it.
VERY helpful description of pH in a very practical way - THANKS
This is SO helpful to me. I have been aware of a plant having definite pH preferences, but this chart helps me understand WHY. Thanks for such good information. Your videos always help us be more informed.
Excellent! Well explained and demonstrated. Thank you!
Thanks for watching
Great video brother thanks again for your time and expertise!🙏
Well done, Jim. Thank you!
This video is awesome. Super informative! Thank you
Awesome video, well explained thank you
Your video is awesome and still being used by soil & plant growth college instructors!
Totally rad video, plus bonus points for calm dad energy. Hawt. I love this.
This is the best explanation of soil ph I've found! So thankful 😀. Can you tell me where I may get that ph meter you showed? Is that what you call it? Thanks
Terrific vid! I've been trying to figure out if sulfur was the thing to use on a market garden. I don't want to use the aluminum sulfate. I think I might try a mix of pine bark fines, and a reduced dose of sulfur.
Now I know why my gardenias failed a few years ago. I mixed in peat moss and organic fertilizer to the soil this time around, so hopefully they like the acidity they’ll get from the iron they were incapable of getting before! Thanks for the info 😊
Excellent lesson, it is just what I needed in my quest to garden. Thank you!
Test the PH of your water, too. I found our municipal water and well water at a PH of 9. It was killing my acid loving plants. I now have a microdosing system that acidifies our well water in the irrigation line bringing it to 6.5 PH. The plants thrive.
Thank you so much for making this video. It helped me a lot in understanding on what to do now.
This was a great mini course in ph requirements . Your chart was perfect! I’ll be sending this to my poor brother who is stuck with an acre of land on which nothing survives except his lawn):
Thank you for explaining something that is pretty confusing!
Absolutely excellent video.. You have a new subscriber buddy... Thank you very much!!
Wow great information! Now I see why my roses yellow sometimes.
Thank you !! This was very informative.
This makes more sense than anything I’ve seen, thanks Jim!
Good. Thanks for watching.
Great video! Thanks for the information.
+Loretta Thayer Thanks for watching
Enjoyed your lesson on ph and how that is the foundation for a healthy lawn. I checked your links for product information and they are no longer working. I would like to know the brand of soil tester you have. Thanks!
Thank you - this was so helpful!
thanks Jim ...great explaination.
+jonnken Thanks, I honestly didn't know how it was going to go.
Great lesson thanks Jim!
Very informative. Thank you.
The chart was perfect!
I love your videos. I follow them from Italy. We do not have enough videos in Italian language.
Thank you very much. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Italy. I am going there next fall I hope.
@@JimPutnam I wish you the best for you and your family for Christmas. I hope you enjoy your visit with Italy!
Jim. What pH soil meter brand/model are you using? Which current brand/model that you recommend?
Awesome Jim!!!
Awesome lesson thank you sir !
+Tom Weber Thanks for watching
Awesome Jim. Any hints for a steeds holly? Aim for 6.5? Mine are against the brick foundation and a bit yellow...getting my ph tested!
Wow, I really needed this lesson. TY for the breakdown
+sylviassuccess Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching
Very good explanation, so much more clear than the half hearted "prefers a ph of _" or "we always lime...it keeps the soil sweet" than you!
I have my own water well which tests 8-8.5 ph. Should I make adjustments to my soil? All my gardening is done in pots or grow bags which I have filled with commercial potting mix like miracle grow.
Well explained 👍👍
Great video1 what can I do to change the PH of my soil in a particular area? I think this is the most important thing I can learn. any type of example would be helpful
Probably one of the best ways to better your pH all the way around is to add compost to your soil, only speaking in-ground planting, not container planting. I only use Black Kow topsoil (which is what I refer to as black gold) to amend my beds. I've used it for 15 years or more. Not sure how available it is in all areas of the U.S. and elsewhere, but I highly recommend it to everyone i speak gardening to. After digging my new spot for my flower, vegetable, shrub, etc., I add lots and lots of the Black Kow and then plant my flower, etc. to the new area. Once a month or so, I will also top dress the area with an inch or so of the fresh, new Black Kow topsoil. It does dramatically help to retain the plant's moisture, but I've never had a problem with it keeping my plants too wet, however, I do live in the hot south. Another great route, is using Espoma's Holly-tone when planting new. It can also be added to plants already established, simply sprinkle it on. It is great for alkaline soils, and works wonders. Actually contains poultry manure, and smells to high heaven, but literally works to break down hard, difficult, sad soil. It's also very affordable. I use both methods, and lots of Jim Putnam's advice, of course :), and have been extremely blessed with gorgeous, gorgeous gardens... Hope this helps some!
very helpful. explains all my mistakes
How accurate is that Ph meter in the video compared to the kits at big box stores or to the lab in Raleigh?
The one I have is very accurate, but it cost about 70 dollars.
great video Jim!
Link for tools takes me to a site for human health? Wanted to order your soil testing device. Got a better link?
I have 4 Gardenias that looked great and are now yellowing horrible! Please give me some suggestions on how to fix my plants!
If they are yellowing in the old growth that is normal this time of year. If it is in the new growth they could be overwatered or nutrient deficient.
Awesome videos! New subscriber here!!!!
Welcome. Thanks for watching.
Great explanation. I actually learned something.
+Thomas Keefer Thanks
I see my problem now. I’ve been adding iron to green up my plants but the ph is to high. I paid the university to test my soil and somehow something I did raised it. Elemental sulfur here you come.
Is there any benefit to adding coffee grounds to the soil to decrease the pH? I want to grow gardenias in a clay environment.
Used coffee grounds actually have a near neutral pH. They are good for the soil, but won't effect the pH really.
HortTube with Jim Putnam thanks Jim!
Thank you!!
Great video. If you would have put up a perfectly drawn chart, it would have gone in one eye and out the other and stuck nowhere in between. But I will have a real hard time getting all that scribbling out of my mind! :-)
My hyperactivity would probably not allow for the time to make a perfect chart anyway. Thanks for watching and commenting.
where did you get the ph soil tester from
If you will go to www.kit.com/horttube I have things that I use linked there. Thanks for watching.
WOOOOW! Awesome ugly chart!!
Great video, good audio,😊😊f j b 😊
i have never tested my outdoor soil
i learned a lot
+roel paghunasan Awesome, thanks for watching
Ph very important
Thank you!