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Dear Paul,
As a professional Horticulturist, for over 27 years now, I hate the word dirt!
However we do not get that saying too much in England, just everyone else uses it.
When my wife and I moved in to our house, I checked the pH, and it seemed to vary everywhere in the garden.
So I asked my neighbor who has lived there for over 50 tears, he told me that the previous owner, had always grown vegetables in patches.
So that accounted for the pH changes as some bits were 6.8 and some up to 8, where it had been limed.
One border had some Japanese maples in it and the pH was 4.9 to 5.1, which is fine for them.
The rest was a combination of weeds and everything.
Luckily near us there is a riding school, and well rotted horse manure is free, if you bring your own bags and shovel it yourself.
So I did and still do, I got lots of manure, although the neighbors were not best pleased, and dug it in.
Now the pH is roughly 6-7 all around apart from the Acer's, as they like a bit of compost.
Our Council in an effort to be green, gives free compost bins to everyone with a garden, or who wants one.
As I have a garden shredder, everything goes in that as well. kitchen waste (vegetable peelings, uncooked of course), plus leaves and next doors, grass clippings.
So now my soil is perfect for what I want it to be.
Do not try to change the pH of your soil dramatically, as you will lose, it is playing God with Nature.
Nature will win in the end!
Regards from England.
Neil.
p.s it has taken fifteen years to get my soil like this.
