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Do Cypress trees turn the soil around them acidic?

Kty2Kty2 Posts: 12
in Plants
Hiya,
Our garden has an old and tall Cypress tree - a local tree surgeon thinks its Lawson Cypress. He also suggested that the soil under this kind of tree turns slowly acidic from all the leaves and corns falling. I dont know about acidic, but the flower bed and ground under the tree is full of dry organic matter - which I guess is from the tree! Is this correct information? Would the soil under this tree be acidic? 
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll certainly be dry, but it takes a huge amount of material to make a big difference to soil pH. If it's already on the acidic side, or even at the acidic end of neutral, it will make it slightly more acidic. 
    If the soil's neutral to alkaline, or fully alkaline, it's unlikely to change it. Your conifer would be unlikely to be thriving well though if the soil's very alkaline.  :)

    You can test the underlying soil  though, if you're wanting to try and plant there - there are kits available in GCs and online as far as I know.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Kty2Kty2 Posts: 12
    Wonderful, thank you. We are new in this garden so discovering new stuff. Yes the tree is thriving. The corns and leaves dropping from the tree might not change the soil overall, but if the top 2 inches are from the tree then the ground is basically mulched in acidic mulch, young plants might struggle? I will get pH testing kit to be sure!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited May 2022
    I would suggest that, if the tree has been dropping acid mulch on the ground for decades, then yes, it will have had an effect on the top soil. I inherited some big cypress with my current house and I put some lime in the beds under the trees before planting (and lots of organic matter). I've had no problems - but as with all the 'trouser legs of time' I don't know what would have happened if I had planted in the earth as was.

    Cypress seem to take off pretty much anywhere and everywhere - seen all over the UK. Fine for chalk and sandy soils.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The dryness of the soil is the biggest problem if you're in a drier area. It's less of a problem in cooler, damper areas.  Conifers can suck up a lot of moisture at the expense of small plants.
    It's often about picking the right plants, and then improving the soil with some moisture retentive organic matter, and that helps when you water. 
    A photo of the general area will help if you need advice about the proximity and viability of any planting you want to add  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Kty2Kty2 Posts: 12
    Fairygirl said:
    The dryness of the soil is the biggest problem if you're in a drier area. It's less of a problem in cooler, damper areas.  Conifers can suck up a lot of moisture at the expense of small plants.
    It's often about picking the right plants, and then improving the soil with some moisture retentive organic matter, and that helps when you water. 
    A photo of the general area will help if you need advice about the proximity and viability of any planting you want to add  :)
    Sure, I will take and send some pics. We are in South East England, not a dry area by any chance. So I think watering every evening should help restore moisture for young plants. I think one thing I have noticed with soil there and could be because of Cypress that it initially repels water than absorbing it - much like cheap compost I bought from supermarket at some point. So water retentive compost sounds like a good idea - any suggestions?
  • Kty2Kty2 Posts: 12
    Fire said:
    I would suggest that, if the tree has been dropping acid mulch on the ground for decades, then yes, it will have had an effect on the top soil. I inherited some big cypress with my current house and I put some lime in the beds under the trees before planting (and lots of organic matter). I've had no problems - but as with all the 'trouser legs of time' I don't know what would have happened if I had planted in the earth as was.

    Cypress seem to take off pretty much anywhere and everywhere - seen all over the UK. Fine for chalk and sandy soils.


    Thank you, I cannot be certain for how long but the three is big quite old, probably as old as the house (90+ years). Last owners did no pruning of the tree over the 8-9 years they were here so it has grown massive. 

    Blue bells under it are ok, so are daylillies. I will plant some hydrangeas there and see how it goes!! 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    A load of manure would probably help.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd be careful of a hydrangea. They really need a lot of water. It depends on how near everything is to the tree itself. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Don't think a Hydrangea is the best idea.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Kty2Kty2 Posts: 12
    punkdoc said:
    Don't think a Hydrangea is the best idea.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
    I was going after the suggestions on the internet about plants that like acidic soil plus can survive shade (for example this one https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/shade/shade-plants-for-acidic-soil.htm). Already have some of the other suggestions around that tree or in the garden elsewhere. Water will not be a problem because I am setting up an irrigation system with rain water harvesting. 
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