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Soil pH affects the chemical form of some nutrients like phosphorus and iron. When the pH is too high or low, plants may suffer a nutrient deficiency even in a nutrient rich soil. When the pH is too high or low, some nutrients convert to a form that cannot be absorbed by plants. This can cause a nutrient deficiency in plants - even in nutrient rich soil. Source: San Diego County Master Gardeners Assocation. San Diego soils that are cultivated tend to be alkaline because our irrigation water is alkaline. A neutral pH is what you should be targeting for happy plants. However, some plants prefer (or will tolerate) a more acidic or alkaline soil. For my San Diego garden I reference Sunset Western Garden Book to identify plant's soil preference.
You can identify the pH of your soil by examining what existing plants are thriving in your soil. I have found a few sources online that list these plants, click here for that list. If that is too exhausting for you, you can test the pH of your soil with an at home test kit ($4) from your local garden store or try an Electronic pH Meter with a probe ($20-$30). Another option is to send soil samples away to a laboratory for a comprehensive test and report. Read the "Soil Nutrients" page for more details on how/where to do that.
Note on gathering soil samples: To collect soil for testing, dig a small hole 6-8 inches deep with a trough and collect a thin slice of soil from one side of the hole. Put the soil in a bucket and collect more samples from several locations in the garden. Mix the samples together to produce a representative sample from your garden.
