Some plants require a very narrow soil pH range to thrive. With the results of a soil pH test kit, you can correct your pH problems and help your plants thrive.
The soil pH of your garden is important for the health of your plants. Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. With a scale of 1 (very acid) to 14 (very alkaline), soil pH typically falls in the 4 to 8 range. Soil with a high or low pH will not allow plants to absorb nutrients effectively. Soil that is out of balance results in wasted fertilizer and plants that grow under stress. The addition of amendments (typically calcium or sulfur) will allow you to raise or lower your soil pH.
Soil pH test kits are available online or from home and garden centers. Choosing the right soil pH test kit will make testing your garden a simple and accurate effort.
Accept No Substitutes
Look for readings that are printed in pH values, not arbitrary codes or other numbering systems. Soil pH values will make it easy to understand the condition of your soil. Codes or alternate numbering systems (found in cheaper kits) can lead to conversion errors and make it harder to get an accurate soil pH.
More For Your Money
Some kits will offer other tests beyond soil pH. Some test kits will provide additional test for nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potash) in the soil. Although soil pH may be your primary concern, additional information can only help to create the best garden soil possible.
Additional Information
As a bonus, some soil pH test kits provide an informational sheet that details the soil pH ranges of common landscape plants. This information makes it a simple matter to compare your soil pH test kit results with the needs of plants in your garden.
Comparing plant requirements to your current soil conditions will also be helpful when deciding on new plants for your garden or landscape. Adjusting your landscape plan to your soil pH may be a less costly choice compared to amending your soil.
Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. The number you get when you test your soil's pH can tell you whether your plants are likely to thrive in your garden spot or not. Luckily, if the answer is no, there are ways to change your soil's pH and make your garden into a more hospitable environment for your vegetables, flowers and lawn. |
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In order to grow successfully, your plants need good soil. This includes the right drainage, pH balance, and conditions. Without good soil, valuable time and investment will probably be lost. Since most soils need some amount of improvement, here are some things you can do to help them along. |
