I would like advice on how to lower my soil pH level. I used a home test kit and found my soil pH to be around 7. I have planted lots of evergreen seedlings and would like to lower my soil pH to around 5.5 to 6. Do you have any recommendations?

A home pH test is a good start. It has given an indication that alteration to the soil for optimal health of your plants may be needed. An appropriate next step would be to contact your County MSU Extension office and obtain a soil test kit. Collect the samples and send in the soil for a complete test.

The soil test done by Michigan State University will include much more than just pH. The test results will show the type of soil (clay, loam, or sand) and analysis of the micro and macro nutrients. If, as a part of testing, you tell them what you want to grow, they will make specific recommendations as to the proper type and quantity of material that should be used to amend the soil.

Be sure to evaluate where and how these plants will be situated in the garden. If these evergreen seedlings are to be used as foundation plantings near a house, the soil amendments may need to continue over a more extended period of time than if they are to be planted away from any structure. Also look into how many plants will be contained within how large an area. If this is a small foundation planting, you can simply use a readily available acidifier formulated for evergreens according to package directions.