Soil pH

Have you always wanted to know the pH of your soil but didn’t have the time or resources to send your soil to some commercial tester across the country. Here is a quick and easy way to test your soil at home. This will give you a great guideline to determine whether you have an acidic or alkaline soil.

The importance of knowing the pH of your soil is mainly due to certain plants thriving better in acidic soil (Azaleas, Gardenias, Rhododendrons) or thriving better in Alkaline soil (Coral Bells, Cranesbill, Clematis). Finding out the pH of your soil will allow you to plant the best plants for your garden and have the best results all year long.

How to Test Your pH. It actually is very simple. You will need to collect 1 Cup of soil. I like to take 2 cups (1 cup from 1 section of the area and another cup from another section of the planter area in order to see if there is a difference within your planter.) You will then split up the 1 cup in half. If you decide to take 2, 1-Cup of soil remember to label or keep separate the 2 locations. Once one 1 location of soil is split in half add 1/2 cup of vinegar. If your soil fizzes, you have a alkaline soil, with a pH greater then 7. If nothing happens. Take the other 1/2 cup from the same location and add distilled water until the soil is muddy. Then similar to the adding of vinegar, add 1/2 cup of baking soil. If it fizzes you have acidic soil, which is lower than 7. If nothing happens you have neutral soil which you are very lucky!!. If you have the second location do the same test and see if you get identical results. It is not unlikely to have 2 different areas of a garden have different pH’s.