Newly planted heathers yellowing foliage, please help!

[MonJardin]

Hello,

I am a very novice gardener and desperately need some help.

A few days ago I planted a few heathers (calluna vulgaris) as they look nice and are low maintenance (or so I thought). Because I read that they prefer an acidic soil and have no idea what kind of soil I have, I added fresh ground coffee (I read that it helps to make the soil acidic). Now I notice that the foliage is yellowing and I don't know why I read somewhere that this means that the soil is too alkaline for their liking but what about the coffee then? I planted them in a semi shady area (sunny for a short time in the mornings) and watered them once I planted them and haven't yet as I don't want to overwater them. I really want to save them as I really put my heart into planting them and want to develop my gardening as I always loved the idea but never had enough time to do it. I am in the South East so it is not really cold right now. Thanks in advance for your help!

@brambleberries Thank you! Yes I really do love my heathers :)

Could you please recommend a soil Ph tester please? I was going to buy this one from Wilko

www.wilko.com/wilko-soil-moisture-ph-tester/p/0261281?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo5zWw43Z8wIVdoODBx23Xgm_EAQYASABEgIzx_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

but the reviews are not great regarding the Ph part so I would really appreciate if you could direct me to an accurate one please. I am so looking forward to finding out what type of soil I have!

@MonJardin, My own personal experience is that the meters are not very accurate in measuring soil pH. I prefer the chemical type tests, like this one on the RHS website -

www.rhsplants.co.uk/product/_/product/the-tool-shed/potting-and-propagating/ph-soil-test-kit/ClassID.2000034637

They also have some information about understanding pH and how to test on their website -
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=239

I have seen this same testing kit for sale in garden centres, and Waitrose garden online (under the brand name Bosmere).

@brambleberries thanks a lot for the suggestion. Could you maybe recommend something simple to use like the wilko one, just stick it in the soil and voila? Not as accurate as a chemical one but at least to have an idea about the Ph please?

@MonJardin - I can't advise on a meter type one, as I haven't found them to be reliable, unfortunately. Other posters might have had better luck than me with them.
However, the chemical ones are really simple to use. You just mix up a bit of soil into the tube with the liquid provided, and check its colour with the colour chart supplied.

If you're not confident at testing the soil yourself, you can send off a soil sample to be tested - though this is a more expensive option.

www.rhs.org.uk/membership/rhs-gardening-advice/soil-analysis

@brambleberries thanks a lot for your help and advice. I might buy a meter type tester as well as a chemical one! When do I know if my heathers are dead or not? Is there a time limit after which one can say for sure that they will survive?

I would leave them in until next spring to see if they rejuvenate - April/May time. Water regularly, preferably with collected rain water, and don't let the soil dry out but it shouldn't be soggy or waterlogged.
Here's a good guide to watering - how and when in winter..

www.pyracantha.co.uk/best-times-to-water-your-garden-in-winter/

Usually, you can feel the heather’s foliage and flowers to see if it's gone dry and brittle. If you break off a single stem of the plant to see if it’s pliable and green or white inside - still alive; but if it snaps in half easily, it's likely not. Very gently digging a small hole nearby the base of the plant to look at its roots will also give you a clue - White roots are healthy, but brown, red or black ones not.

@brambleberries thanks so much for your help and patience, I am truly grateful :)

Who would have thought plants need to be watered during the (UK) winter! that is a revelation!