"Retired_Paul" wrote in message
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On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 18:25:33 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:



On the same theme just how would you "Acidify" soil to make
Rhododendrons etc more comfortable.

TIA

Paul
'Acidifying' soil as such is quite difficult. If it's chalky, you've
no hope, because the chalk holds the pH high, and the only way to
acidify it is to dissolve all the chalk. If the soil is only very
slightly alkaline or neutral, then adding acid compost regularly over
a period of years may increase the acidity slightly. But your best bet
is to water on sequestered iron and trace elements. These don't change
the acidity (contrary to what the labels imply) but they do provide
the nutrients not available in alkaline soils. Look for 'ericaceous'
fertilisers, or those containing sequestered iron and trace elements.

I will look around for some sequestered iron stuff then, the soil is
clay but the Rhododendrons don't look too happy.


Have you considered it might be some sort of fungal infection? Rhododendrons
are known to be carriers of the fungus which causes Sudden Oak Death, for
example.