What do you have in Canada that is the equivalent of our research based extension system? I've often wondered but have never found out the answer to that. Surely there are places where pH tests can be evaluated.

Since you have no idea what the pH of your soil is, I strongly suggest that you add absolutely nothing until you do know.

How much? How much product to add to raise or lower the pH?

That answer will depend entirely on what your existing pH is now, and on the soil type you have. You may find that you will need to add nothing at all. That is, of course, preferable to having to incorporate a product every year for the rest of your precious life!!

All the plants you list are fairly tolerant of any except extreme alkaline or acid soils. Not much you can do, except keeping your fingers crossed, until you know the pH of your soil. Once the Hydrangeas flower you'll have a rough idea :)

thanks shrubs n bulbs, as it was the 'mix' of plants I was worried about. If the ones I picked can tolerate most soils I will go ahead with what I have picked. I suspect I don't have any one extreme or the other. I hadn't though of leaving the hydrangea's bloom without supplementing the soil first for what colour I wanted. I may do this the first year to see what happens. Thanks again Sharon

Clethra alnifolia is native here in MA and grows wild on my property--and flourishes in extremely acid soil.

How about holly and hydrangea with various perrenials? Holly needs peat moss & ferrous sulfate to increase acidity, but will that harm daylilies, phlox, carnations or wintergreen or creeping red sedum groundcover? We will consider getting a pH tester to determine the natural level of the soil.

My clethra is doing just fine in my neutral PH soil.

Just an update for everyone. My Clethra is doing fine among the others. This will be the first full year all these plants are in so we see how everything blooms.

Thanks all

Sharon