Before starting any significant planting endeavor, anyone who has picked up an instructional gardening book will know that it may be necessary to test the pH of your soil; but, far too frequently, gardeners neglect this crucial step. According to Daryl Beyers, the coordinator of the Gardening Certificate Program at the New York Botanical Garden and author of The New Gardener’s Handbook, “newbie gardeners don’t test for pH mostly because they don’t know it matters.”
But “to make the best use of the soil in your gardening you should know its properties,” explain the writers of the reliable and essential Reader’s Digest Illustrated Guide to Gardening. If you’ve been afraid to test your soil, keep reading to learn the most effective (and simple!) methods for determining the pH of your soil.
How can one determine the pH of soil the best?
Sending it to a lab is the best technique to measure pH. Don’t stop reading at the word “lab,” please! You might be surprised to learn that a lab test is actually easier than an at-home soil testing tool.
“Every state university has a soil lab that does this and it’s not too expensive,” Beyers explains. After excavating a small sample of soil, you will mail it in and wait a week or two for your results, which can range from free to $50.
More information about your soil, including its fertility, texture, and nutrient content—all crucial details you should be aware of—is also revealed by the test.
What is the pH of soil?
Maybe you remember anything about pH from a science class in high school. To recap, pH is a scale that goes from 0 (pure acid) to 14 (alkalinity and acidity). The pH range in which plants grow is limited to 4.5 to 7.5, with most soils having a moderate acidity. According to the Reader’s Digest guide, acidity is frequent in the eastern United States, especially on sandy or clay soil or under pine and oak trees.
How do I measure the pH of soil at home?
In the event that you choose to conduct it yourself, Beyers suggests utilizing a pH meter. “You can check more areas faster with these devices than with paper strips because you don’t have to bother with mixing the soil in water and dipping in the strip,” the man claims. “In addition, it can be challenging to determine the precise color of the strip in order to obtain an accurate pH reading.”
Beyers, however, issue a warning, pointing out that while a $12 meter from the hardware store will work, there are more expensive but extremely accurate scientific meters. Ask your local community group if anyone has a gardening tool you can borrow, or consider enlisting the help of a couple of friends to work on one together.
Beyers advises against using the vinegar and baking soda pH testing tricks you may come across online. He claims, “It’s just not very precise.” You can find out whether your pH is above or below the neutral pH of 7 by doing one of these experiments, but not by how much. According to Beyers, pH is a logarithmic scale, thus the precise value matters. For example, a pH of 6.0 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 7.0, and a pH of 5.0 is 100 times more acidic than a pH of 7.0.
Why is it crucial to perform a pH test?
According to Beyers, “pH matters because it affects how your soil’s nutrients are absorbed by the plant.” With nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur moving from the soil to the plant roots, it’s like a little chemical experiment happening underneath. How thoroughly certain nutrients are absorbed from the soil depends on the pH, or acidity, of the soil.
This is significant because certain plants require more of those minerals than others in order for them to produce roots, fruits, and flowers: On the pH scale, vegetables grow best in soil that is between 6 and 7, although cabbage grows best in soil that is slightly alkaline (7.5), as the alkalinity inhibits the clubroot fungus that frequently damages Brassicaceae.
Hydrangeas, another well-known example, prefer acidic soils. According to Beyers, “the blue hydrangeas absorb the minerals they need to make their flowers blue because of this acidity.”
How do I adjust the pH of my soil?
If you discover that the pH of your soil is not optimal, don’t rush into buying expensive additives. “Choosing and cultivating plants that thrive in your garden’s soil is always a better idea—fortunately, most plants can withstand a wide range of pH,” advises Beyers.
If there is an extreme pH in your soil, you can try adjusting the pH around the roots of existing plants to see if that helps them out. For instance, you could amend the soil around your lawn or boxwoods (which prefer alkaline soil) with limestone, or you could amend the soil around your hydrangea or azalea roots (which prefer acidic soil) with sulfur (both available at most garden centers). Now, however, choose plants that will thrive in your soil.
One thing you should never do is amend the soil with peat; while this was once advised to increase soil acidity, it is now strongly discouraged due to the harm peatlands cause to the environment. Working with what you have is the greatest and most sustainable way to garden, according to Beyers.
Not yet persuaded? Here’s another reason to conduct a thorough pH test on your soil: Having this knowledge will boost your self-assurance. You feel accomplished after completing this easy activity, and now that you know what to look for, you can rule out pH the next time you’re unsure about what’s wrong with a plant.
