How to test your soil pH
If you have grown a garden or are thinking about growing a garden, even if it is just a flower garden then you have probably heard of people talking about the pH levels in the soil and how you want to test the pH levels in your soil about once a year. The reason for this is that the pH of the soil is the most important thing that enables plants to consume fertilizer and nutrients, which means that if the pH levels are too high (acidic) or too low (alkaline) then the way that plants can consume the fertilizer and nutrients from the fertilizer is blocked, which means that the plants can not grow and thrive like they are supposed to. The numerical scale for the pH level ranges from 1.0 to 14.0 and 7.0 on that scale is considered neutral which means that the soil is neither to acidic nor to alkaline. When it comes to your soil you want it at the proper pH level so that the soil is unlocked, which will allow the plants to receive the nourishment that they need to grow and thrive. When it comes to your soil levels you want the pH level to range between 5.8 and 6.6, this is the best level so that the plants can absorb all of the nutrients from the soil and the fertilizer that you apply.
Difficulty rating: Moderate to difficult
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Step one:
The first thing that you are going to want to do is to go shopping to get some basic supplies. The things that you are going to need are: soil testing kit and distilled water. The other supplies that you are going to need to test the soil are going to include a stopwatch or some type of timer that has a second hand and a trowel or shovel of some kind so that you can gather the dirt without contaminating the soil.
Step two:
The next thing that you are going to want to do is to gather a sample of soil from 2" to 6" below the surface. You should take various samples of soil from different areas because of the fact that there might be a variation in the soil as well as a change in elevation of the land. Your best bet is to take a sample from each corner and the center of the area you will be using.
Step three:
The next thing that you need to do is to make sure that you do not touch the sample with your hands. You are going to want to use a spoon or trowel to place the soil into a clean container.
Step four:
The next thing that you are going to want to do is to make sure that the soil is not too wet, if it is to wet to walk on you are going to want to allow it to dry naturally before you do anything to it. You are going to want to allow the sample to dry overnight by placing it on a sheet of plastic wrap.
Step five:
After the sample has dried you are going to want to crumble the soil as finely as possible and remove any solids.
Step six:
Now you are going to need to get out the soil testing kit that you bought and follow the directions on how to test your soil.
Other tips:
Never use your fingers to close the lid on any of your containers as this can contaminate the sample that you have taken and cause your results to be off. If your results are off then you will be making adjustments to your soil that are not necessary.
Make sure that you wash all of the containers and lids after each test with a mild liquid detergent in hot water. This will help to ensure that you get accurate results, you can also place the containers in the dishwasher to help sanitize them after each use.
When you are storing the containers for future use you are going to want to keep them out of the reach of any children or pets that are in your household and you are going to want to store them in a cool, dry area that is out of direct sunlight.
