Soooo….. simple, but so important……
Alkaline soil 
Dig a hole in your garden bed. Do not use surface soil.
Scoop out 2 tablespoons of soil into a bowl
Add a 1/2 Cup of white distilled Vinegar
Watch…… to see if the mixture fizzes
If it does, you have alkaline soil.
Solution

•Add organic matter.

The most organic way to lower your soil’s pH level is to add soil amendments. Use organic materials like mulch, pine needles, sphagnum peat moss, compost, and coffee grounds.

••••••••••

Acidic Soil

Collect 2 tablespoons of soil in a bowl.
Moisten it with distilled water.
Add 1/2 Cup of baking soda
If the mixture fizzes
You have Acidic soil

Solution

•Add Nitrogen

Soil pH can be lowered by increasing soil nitrogen. Adding compost, manure, or organic soil amendments like alfalfa meal to the soil can help drop pH over time by increasing bacterial populations

Or you can purchase a product that takes care of this for you. Particularly with Hydrangeas. Very often folks will purchase a new BLUE hydrangea specimen. They bought blue specifically, because they love this color.

Generally within the first full year of growth it may begin to produce a more violet bloom, and by the second year they are leaning toward a pink blossom. This means your soil is too acidic.

Purchase this product and use it around the base of your Hydrangea every three months, beginning in the spring

Periodically soil pH testing is a very good idea, as waters can flow from other areas and this can greatly affect the soil in your garden beds.

“Contessa” says……Give It A Go!