I've found, and Straw confirmed, that bagged sand runs about pH 7. But she suspected that they added quick lime to it, which would presumably raise it even more?

But some brands of bagged sand must have something added to it because not even weeds will grow in the sand boxes and my roses certainly didn't flourish.

But then I used another brand on some others and the change was spectacular!

Straw is the expert in these matters but I think that we were both frustrated by potential ingredients in bagged soil that aren't listed on the bag.

So no help from me, just a word of caution!

Carol: PM (private message) me in HMF, and I'll share what I have learned growing 110+ varieties roses in pots for the past decade, plus growing rose from seeds, and rooting roses from cuttings. Learn new things every year !! I no longer post in forum, but I'll answer question about SPECIFIC rose in HMF, under comment section of that rose. I also accept private-message in HMF from friends that I know and treasure for the past years, and you are one of them !!

Gardengal - I bought a whole lot of pine bark fines (1 cubic yard) and found out that I had to water my roses (the few I tried it on) twice a day...so I decided that it wasn't for me. My roses did much better last year when I wasn't using the pine bark fines. And I figured my soil was too acidic, because Straw mentioned in another thread that potted soil tends to be more acidic which causes powdery mildew. I trust Straw alot. I did write down the fertilizer brands you suggested. Thanks. :)

Straw - I don't know how to private message. Can you explain it to me....or private message me? Thanks so much!!! You inspire me!

Carol

Carol: Google "HMF and StrawChicago", it will pop up links which has my comment about a particular rose. Click on my name, it will pop up my HMF profile, click on "Private Message" and you can chat with me in HMF. One must sign-in with HMF, before one can private message other HMF members. Don't need to pay for HMF membership in order to sign-in & use their private-message system.

Carol: This morning I saw your message in my HMF account, wrote a long response but HMF won't allow me to send, since users are allowed only 1 message per day, unless you pay for membership. Last night I wrote a message to Lavenderlace as to how to UP the scent in roses, so HMF doesn't allow me to send another message in less than 24 hours.

I re-set my Houzz account to allow message. Here's how to set your Houzz profile to send/accept message: Click on your Houzz-username. Click on Edit-profile (gray box on top-right). Then click on Advanced Settings, then choose "Notify me everytime anyone message me", then SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, there's a box which you arrow down to choose "allow anyone to message me."

Tonight, HMF will let me send message to you, so you'll see my response after 11 pm or tomorrow morning. As to the reason why I no longer post in forum, see my thread "Roses and plants in heavy clay, pH 8 ..."

Straw...I'll just send you my email on hmf. :)

Yeah, I'll check out that post.

Carol

Carol did you get the acid thing figured out? I have the same problem,(soil too acidic) but not in pots. I used a ph meter. I was getting such wacky readings, I thought it couldn't be correct. The lowest reading I got was on one side of Twilight zone, and that one defoliated from black spot. I got this big kit to test npk and ph all separately. Followed every instruction. Got easy to read results, except for the ph one. Then I read something about moss loving acidic soil, that combined with me getting ph readings as low as 4.5 in a couple spots, over from a spot about 8 inches that read 7, makes me fairly certain my overall ph is too low. (lot of moss in the yard) I've ordered some Espoma garden lime, but I'm not sure if I should just scratch a couple tbs around the roses or what. I wish I knew the ph of black kow composted manure, because they all got planted with it, but I can't remember if I used more or less for Twilight Zone, where I'm getting the lowest readings. (I'm guessing less, but I can't remember)

Yes, Witchygirl - I know what I'm going to do from now on. I have to start my new plan in the spring. :) Straw helped me. :) Sorry I can't help you, but maybe Straw or someone else can. Good luck!

Carol

witchygirl: Some links that might help besides Roses Unlimited tip of 1 cup of Garden lime (pH 10) per gallon of peat-moss (pH 4):

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2132487/cheapest-way-to-test-soil-ph-using-red-cabbage?n=28

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2134007/red-cabbage-ph-test-of-blood-meal-corn-meal-compost-etc?n=25

I hope that helps !! Good luck.

whitchygirl, I'm not surprised your soil is acidic. I think most of the soil in WV and Appalachians rests on sandstone and is thus acidic. I guess that's why The Dolly Sods has such great native blueberries!. However, I'm sure there are local differences. What county do you live in?

You can check your PH using red cabbage also. Straw has posted this method before and it's on youtube etc. I think it's fairly accurate and a fun experiment. I have the opposite problem with high pH, but still have a lot of BS, as well. Oh, I see she already posted that above, but Youtube has videos if you like that format.

Thanks Straw :-)

Yes VV lots of sandstone. I must have been straight in it when I got that 4.5 reading. It's on the end where I was running out of amendments that I'm getting low readings. (also more black spot on that end) Gonna have to get some cabbage and figure out what I'm starting with, so I can up it some before I start planting again.I'm in Wayne County.

Witchy, you can learn alot about your native soil using the Web soil Survey of the USDA. It take a while to figure it out completely, but I've found it extremely useful for my odd little area of the world. I actually found one from the early 1900s for Ohio which was VERY detailed due to agricultural interests.

https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

If I'm reading these things correctly. My soil is ph 5 , and no calcium. That doesn't sound good at all.

Are you saying you're getting that from the map or from some other method? Have you done a soil test with your local extension? Sometimes they're free or at least cheap.

It showed that on the map when I viewed details around my house. It matches what the ph meter has been getting. I also see clay was around 30%, sand was 20-30%. Organic matter was 1%. That was when I set it show 1 to 24 inches of soil.