Question: How do I figure out whether I have alkaline or acidic soil?
Answer: That is always something useful to know. Many plants such as the grass suggested here really like acidic soil. To make a test of your own, mix soil from one part of the garden and add it to a jar of water. Pour some baking soda over it; if it bubbles, it's acidic. In another container pour ordinary vinegar over the muddy water; if it fizzes it's alkaline. If nothing happens, you've got neutral soil, which is what most gardens like to grow in. This is, of course, a crude method. Another way to figure out what you're working with: Look around. Are there lots of cedars and other evergreens? Any healthy-looking rhododendrons? If so, you can bet the soil is acidic.