Thanks. Is it a better idea to increase alkalinity slowly or rapidly?

Is it a good idea to rub limestone powder on the trunks? The pH I'm getting on the trunks is around 2.5.

How do you test the pH on a tree trunk? What are you using to test the soil pH?

The pH depends upon what the drain cleaner contains/is.

How do you know the material used was drain cleaner?

How much was used?

and over what square footage?

Please post pictures.

Changing the soils pH is going to be a months long process and any damage done to plants is not going to be the soils pH but will be the substance that was poured.

A drain cleaner based on lye that is one thing, while a drain cleaner based on sulfuric acid will be something quite different, although both can kill plants and plant roots.

The questions jean asked are very pertinent and need to be answered.

kimmq is kimmsr

@rhizo I just ripped a bit of the bark and soaked it in water. I know it's not the best measurement technique, but I just wanted to see how acidic it might be.

Please let us know the answers to jean's questions. And include pictures of the damage. I would still like to know what kind of device you're using.

＠jean Sorry, my previous response didn't show up - probably my photo was too large.

My garden bed is rather small - about 1ft wide and 20ft long. The area directly affected is about 1ft x 10ft.

The police said he "confessed" to using drain cleaner, but I saw a clear, inviscid liquid as well, which burnt brown dots on my rubber tree leaves in just 15mins. I tested the pH of those leaves and it's around 2.5. It's likely sulphuric acid.

Here are some pics of the leaves:

Thanks

@kimmq

I think sulphuric was used separately, because I saw a clear liquid on the rubber tree which I first thought was rain. The rubber tree started getting brown dots after just 10, 15mins. After a few hours, some leaves were already completely burnt.

John, what a viscious thing to do; I am so very sorry.