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Old 10-Dec-2001   #4
TreeBay
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Oak & soil pH.

It varies with the species of oak. But generally I have to acidify a a bit to just to keep my soil neutral. As the pH becomes more alkaline you run into problems with iron and trace minerals getting bound up chemically, so generally speaking, a slightly acid soil is better.

Here is a nice chart:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/1731-29.html

Slightly acid to neutral
Q. palustris - Pin Oak
Q. rubra - Red Oak
Q. velutina - Black Oak

Neutral to slightly alkaline:
Q. alba - White Oak
Q. bicolor - Swamp White Oak
Q. ellipsoidalis - Northern Pin Oak
Q. macrocarpa - Bur Oak

The following chart is numeric and suggests a more acid soil:

http://msucares.com/pubs/is372.htm

A pH target of 6.0 would be good for most of these.

Neither chart lists Quercus Agrifolia. I did find a separate page on that that listed a wide pH range of 4.0 to 8.0, which ranges from very acid to slightly alkaline. Things are always a bit different in containers, though.

Regards,

Matt.


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