Is red dirt acidic? Where I live the dirt is like GA red clay, only this is SC red clay.

[raccoon]

I've been putting coffee/tea grounds on the shrubs around my apartments. But coffee/tea grounds are acidic, and if the soil is acidic too, that's not good.

Maybe epsom salts and water would be better? These shrubs don't belong to me but to the apartments, so I don't mind putting something on it that doesn't cost me much, if anything (such as coffee/tea grounds).

[Kolesar]

1. I doubt that coffee grounds would change the "ph" appreciably

At the rate you are putting the coffee grounds in.

[XemaSab]

2. Don't put salt on it!

Acidic soil doesn't hold nutrients very well, so something like compost or a mulch would be best.

[conscious evolution]

3. Lime

wil lower the acidity.
It will also make the clay softer so that roots have an easier time growing deeper.

[HamdenRice]

4. You can't generalize, but I was under the impression that clays trend alkalyne, not acid. nt

[XemaSab]

5. Depends on the color of the clay and what part of the country you are in

Old, red clays tend to be acidic.

Young, yellow clays tend to be a little more alkaline. :)