How many of you test the soil?

Aug 01, 2004 2 Replies

I see people posting- "Test the soil and adjust!!" - sounds very simple! How often do you test your soil? What do you use to test and for what elements?


Once a year or every 2 years. Sometimes I'll test twice a year for an item that was "treated" to see if I need more. For example, if the pH is 5.2, I'll add lime and test again in 6 months; then if it is 5.9, I'll add more lime to the soil. I test for Nitrogen, Potassium, Potash, and acidity. There are lots of other things to test. I know adding organic amendments helps balance the pH and adds small amounts of other important elements. If plants are not growing well, testing the soil (perhaps a more comprehensive laboratory test) is included in the troubleshooting.

I'll do a PH test every few years (read 2-3) of my flower beds. You can buy test kits in your local garden center. Simple to do.

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