The Importance of Soil Testing
What's Soil?
Soil is made up of minerals, organic matter (living and dead), air and water. Soil provides nutrients and serves as a foundation for plants. Improving your soil increases plant health and is critical to growing a lawn or garden that'll thrive for years to come.
What Can You Learn From Soil Test Results?
Plant growth and vigor are often dependent on soil pH — the measurement of how acidic or alkaline the soil is. Soil pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14 with a measurement of 7.0 considered neutral. A number below 7 is acidic (sometimes called sour); a number above 7 is alkaline (sweet). Most plants prefer nearly neutral soil with a pH between 6.2 and 7.2. Some plants (such as azaleas) prefer more acidic soil.
Soil testing determines whether your soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline. A soil test also indicates which elements are missing from your soil and how much to add to remedy the problem. You can purchase a soil test kit in Lowe’s Garden Centers. These kits will provide an immediate analysis of your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. You can also find testing meters that measure pH as well as moisture and light.
Your local cooperative extension office can test your soil sample for pH and nutrient levels (some states charge a small fee for lab tests). The soil analysis usually takes a few weeks to process. The analysis includes detailed results and suggested amendments specific to your region.
How to Test Soil
Home soil pH tester kits include vials and tablets to test your soil, as well as a chart to interpret the results. With testing meters, you simply insert the meter probe into the soil and read the results. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for these home-testing solutions.
To prepare a soil sample to send for analysis, you’ll need a garden trowel and a clean plastic (not metal) bucket.
These steps explain how to collect a sample for testing soil pH and nutrients. They're simple, but follow them carefully to get an accurate reading.
- Thoroughly clean the tools you're using to collect the soil sample.
- In the planting area, dig five holes 6 to 8 inches deep.
- Take a 1/2-inch slice along the side of a hole and place it in the bucket. Repeat this process for all the holes.
- Collect samples from different areas that'll be growing similar plants.
- Mix the soil in the bucket. Spread the soil on a newspaper to dry it out. Collect a pint for your sample.
Be sure to take the sample when the soil is fairly dry because wet soil can give a false test reading. You may want to check the soil more than once to verify your results.
You can test soil at any time, but fall or early spring is best for soil analysis. You'll have time to make adjustments based on the soil pH and nutrient availability before you begin planting.
How to Improve Acidic Soil
Most native soils in the Eastern United States are naturally acidic. Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the Pacific Northwest tend towards acidic soil as well. Acidic soil is a good environment for thatch, weeds and diseases, and it can also reduce the effectiveness of your fertilizer or herbicide.
Garden lime, or limestone, is the soil amendment that's usually recommended for reducing soil acidity. Lime is a natural source of calcium and magnesium — elements necessary for healthy plant growth. Correction of an overly acidic soil is a long-term project that takes time to complete. Fall is the best time to apply garden lime but it can be applied at any time of year.
When using lawn-care products or soil amendments, always follow the package directions regarding proper clothing, protective equipment, application procedures and safety precautions.
How To Improve Alkaline Soil
Alkaline soils are most common in the Central and Southwestern United States, which are generally areas with less rainfall. Alkaline soil restricts a plant’s ability to take in nutrients (such as iron).
Soil conditioners with sulfur are a common amendment to improve alkaline soil. Sphagnum peat moss is an organic, naturally acidic alternative; however, it may not be cost-effective to apply to large areas. Organic compost can increase soil acidity if applied regularly.
Rather than trying to make wholesale changes to your soil’s pH based on the test results, consider raised beds for flower or vegetable gardening. With raised beds, you customize the garden soil mix to match the needs of your crop. You can build your own raised garden bed or buy a raised bed kit.
SoilKit Test Kits
Now that you’ve learned why soil testing is an important step for keeping your lawn and garden healthy, you can get a detailed readout of your soil’s health analysis, along with an expert recommendation for soil amendments, using SoilKit products. SoilKit provides all the supplies needed for a quick and easy soil collection, and your soil will be tested and processed by one of the nation’s leading agricultural labs.