Does mulch affect ph?

[John2468]

Hello everyone, will mulch from fir bark affect soil ph? Some sources say that if does and some say it doesn’t. 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, John2468 said:

Hello everyone, will mulch from fir bark affect soil ph? Some sources say that if does and some say it doesn’t. 

Personal take? ..bark from any tree can do ...something... to the surrounding soil as it breaks down.  In the case of conifers? yes, fresh bark might still have some tannins ..or whatever.. hanging around in it that might raise the pH a little more - briefly at least.. as those chemicals are leached from the bark..

More aged and / or had sat around long enough that some of any residual tannin content might have had an opportunity to be washed out before it was packaged for distribution and sale, probably less raising of the pH when added to a soil mix / placed around in- ground plants.

Again, that's just my thoughts on that subject..
 

Same thing w/ leaves.. Fresher? ..higher chance they might raise pH a bit at first as they start to decompose.  Can also depend on the tree they're coming off off too. Needles from Conifers, and leaves from broad leaved trees like say Oaks or Maples may contain more pH raising tannins / compounds than say the duff that accumulates below a Mesquite or Royal Poinciana. pH of the soil below decomposing foliage off them might average closer to neutral..

[Than]

I thought pine needles are acidic and lower the pH usually. Depending of course on the pH of the original soil.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Than said:

I thought pine needles are acidic and lower the pH usually. Depending of course on the pH of the original soil.

Good catch..  My " higher " ..should be  lower..  Conifer bark / needles,  and/ or leaves from certain trees like Oaks may lower.... pH.  Not sure why i went the other way in my statement..  🙃



..And yes, base chemistry of nekked soil = overall degree of acidity / alkalinity you'll be working to adjust / balance - if necessary..  ...Unless you're smart and stick to planting plants that won't have issues w/ the native soil's background pH.. Right around neutral is obviously better than either pH extreme for the greatest variety of options. 

Yard sits on an area  where the soil contains high amounts of Calcium carbonate / Sodium / Magnesium?  stick to plants that won't have issues w/ high amounts of that stuff in the soil.   Forget stuff like Azaleas / other things that often prefer more neutral or acidic soil conditions..  Can't " but..., what if i... ..."   your way into growing those things in the wrong soil. In the ground at least..

2-4" of somewhat more acidic mulch laid across the surface of otherwise highly alkaline soil will not change the overall soil chemistry enough long term to allow you to suddenly grow acid lovers w/ ease either..

Not unless you dumped a 2-4 ft deep layer of it on the soil, each year, for ..uhh, a decade / several decades+ in a row.  Then you might start lowering that soil's base pH.

 

[John2468]

Also are ph test strips accurate enough to determine ph in soils?

[Silas_Sancona]

42 minutes ago, John2468 said:

Also are ph test strips accurate enough to determine ph in soils?

While neither will be perfect, Lab- grade strips like these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/146413302574?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1oLZi0Wb9RGKVhz9e35Xheg35&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=146413302574&targetid=4580702894586622&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=418640321&mkgroupid=1233652283797640&rlsatarget=pla-4580702894586622&abcId=9300602&merchantid=51291&msclkid=c464abe5b5761ea56c3bc3cd47353104
will be much closer to accurate than the strips offered at say HD or Lowes..

Fyi:  Meters w/ the metal probe you'd stick in the ground? ..Pretty much useless.

[John2468]

I’m also curious what other Palmtalkers are using to measure ph.

[Than]

I second what Silas said. The metal stick pH meters are useless. Impossible to trust them. I would recommend a lab test every year, it's quite cheap.