yes, you can't grow things with a 7.5 PH

That's weird because my pH is 8.5 and everything is growing fine. Of course I can't grow azaleas or blueberries in the ground, but the grass, trees, roses, tomatoes, and other plants are doing well.

Although it seems to have been effective, I do agree that baking soda was the wrong way to change the pH. Baking soda is a non selective fungicide and will kill the beneficial fungi in your soil. Fortunately it washes out, especially in sand. Lime would have been a better choice, but you can't know which kind of lime to use unless you have a soil test. Some soils have too much magnesium and require a different kind of lime than is commonly used for raising the pH.

Well, its a question for the soil compost forum, in that case. I did notice some desert plants will grow at PH of 8, but from what I believe 6.5 is good and 7 is too high, so 8.5 is off the charts. I am referring to growing crops or ferns, most of the things I grow like acid soil. In fact decreasing the PH makes things grow better. Cactus, I don't know about. If OP asks the soil compost forum there are people who are more scientific then myself to discuss PH. I was just wondering what happened to Hortiplex, so I looked here thinking I would ask here.

I did send soil out for testing

I am waiting on results. I know that it takes 3-6 months or more for lime to be effective. I was trying to speed it up for this fall, and add lime as well so it will be effective in the spring.

Thank you. I will look at that forum as well.

Bad idea to add sodium to soil. In any form. Really. Soil salinity not desirable.