My soil is alkaline, naturally all the cuttings I have been given for my new garden would prefer an acid soil!
By Junie
Essex,
United Kingdom 
do you think it would be work if I removed some of my soil and planted them in some replacement ericaceous soil? I know I can put them in tubs, but some of the bigger ones (camellia for example) would definitely prefer to be in the soil. Am I wasting my time, any opinions would be most appreciated.
24 Jul, 2009
Answers
If your soil is really alkaline you would have to work hard to make an area of it acidic enough to keep acid loving plants happy. Just as we have to accept not growing plants that need an alkaline soil you may have to accept not growing ones that need an acidic soil. Oh and I read somewhere recently of a Rhododendron that is happy to grow in alkaline soil - genetically bred I suspect!
24 Jul, 2009
Thanks to you both, will bear all that in mind.
24 Jul, 2009
it is usually better to grow plants where they would be happiest. I have a camellia in alkaline soil but i have to mulch with acidic leaf mould and feed sequestrine reularly to keep it happy. it was a present otherwise i wouldnt have had one. even though i love them.
25 Jul, 2009
Previous question
« the leaves on my blackcurrant bushes are starting to curl inwards. can't see...
I tried to grow a Rhododendron in my alkaline soil (although I dug a massive hole, and filled with ericaceous soil first) - no good at all. After a month or so the leaves went yellow and curled up. The Rhododendron is now in a pot!!!!
24 Jul, 2009