How to care for acid soil loving plants

Acid soil-loving plants 

As a general rule acid ( soil conditions ) loving plants such as camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias have evolved to grow on forest floors, a general indication of this is that most have fleshy leaves to be able to collect the maximum amount of energy from the available sunlight in shady positions. 

Although it might seem counterproductive, most acidic soil loving plant roots tend to grow up rather than down into the soil. This is because they have evolved to grow up into the fresh leaf litter on the forest floor after the annual autumn leaf fall. Often this can be seen as a mound at the base of a rhododendron where over the years the roots have grown upwards. 

In a garden situation, you have to create the effect of this leaf fall with most acid-loving plants by mulching around the base with an acid mulch such as well rotted farmyard manure or horse manure and if you are very lucky some well rotted leaf mould.

One note of caution is that well rotted farmyard manure or horse manure leaf mould can contain weeds such as bindweed so check before you apply.