Testing the pH of your soil before planting isn’t always essential, but it may help you prevent several problems down the line.
When it comes to plant care, plants can occasionally be picky. The soil conditions of some plants are very specific, others require more sun, and others require less water. Due to this, certain types of plants cannot grow in soil that is either extremely acidic or extremely alkaline. The pH of one’s soil is something most people don’t know, and they assume it’s no big deal. It is almost as important to know what and when to plant as to know what soil pH to test.
How does soil pH affect soil health?
It is important for soil pH to be as acidic or alkaline as possible for plants. Approximately, pH ranges from 0 to 14, with 14 being the most alkaline. In North America, most gardens are slightly acidic, falling between a pH of 6.0 and 7.0. This range is ideal for most garden plants.
An acidic soil or an alkaline soil falls outside these ranges. The soil conditions might make it difficult for garden plants, vegetables, shrubs, flowers, trees, and even grass to grow. The pH level of your soil will ultimately help you determine what action needs to be taken to bring it to the right pH level, either higher or lower.
How to test soil pH “officially” is as follows?
Soil pH can be measured with a DIY kit or by sending it to a lab for analysis, but most commonly it’s done by using a DIY pH test kit. In addition to taking about 15 minutes to perform, home soil testing kits can be quite expensive and only provide an approximate idea of how acidic or alkaline your soil is.
However, getting the results back from a lab test could take weeks. Without the need for expensive kits or labs, it is possible to test pH at home.
Using a soil pH test kit without a kit?
Using a clean plastic container, scoop soil from your planting beds and test it yourself at home. The best way to perform this test is to blend soil samples from all parts of your yard, as this can take into account small changes in the yard as a whole. An empty garden bed or recently filled-in lawn, for example, may have more acidic soil than soil beneath a pine tree. If you plan to plant most of your seeds in the same area, be sure to take some soil from there.
Here is how to test soil for alkalinity:
You should add 1/2 cup of water to your soil sample. Adding a half cup of vinegar will make it taste better. Make sure the soil is visible bubbling or fizzing when you observe it. When it does, the pH is alkaline. This is because the acidic vinegar rubs up against the very basic soil, just as in a school science fair volcano. A chemical reaction resulting in an abnormal degree of alkalinity should be indicated by the fact that most soils are naturally acidic.
Here are some tips for testing soil acidity:
A new sample of soil will need to be taken if you’re testing also for acidity. The soil sample should be mixed with 1/2 cup of baking soda instead of vinegar. Your soil may be acidic if it bubbles or fizzles this time. It is normal for neutral or slightly acidic soil to bubble slightly, which is the best soil for most plants. It is possible that the soil is very acidic if the fizzing is particularly vigorous and excitable.
You can fix your soil’s pH by following these steps:
For anything to grow, your soil must be brought close to neutral, whether it is too alkaline or too acidic. The acidity of the soil can be raised or lowered naturally by using several methods. A soil pH can be raised by using wood ashes or agricultural lime, both of which will make it less acidic and more alkaline. The pH will be lowered by pine needles and sulfur, resulting in an alkaline soil.
You will have a hard time determining how far up or down you need to go without a gauge, a scale, or a pH test. In the event that the test reveals a particularly large amount of fizz, you may want to invest the time or money in a laboratory test or pH kit. Once the soil has acclimatized to its new conditions, you can keep moving the pH up and down yourself, but if you get a good number right away, you’ll have a better chance of nailing down what’s right.