Tony O’Neill, expert gardener and best-selling author of the famous “Simplify Vegetable Gardening,” “Composting Masterclass,” and “Your First Vegetable Garden,” combines lifelong passion and expert knowledge to simplify gardening. His mission? Helping you cultivate a thriving garden. More on Tony O’Neill
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What you’re thinking about is all the flowers, fruits, and vegetables you want to plant there. But trust me! Testing your garden soil is just as crucial as sowing seeds or harvesting.
Testing soil provides critical information on its chemical, biological, and nutritional composition. This information is used to amend soils that aid productive plant growth. It saves time and money by removing the guesswork on your garden’s requirements.
Your garden soil is like a camel traveling through the desert. Once hydrated, it can survive for weeks. But sooner or later, it’s going to tumble.
Like that, your garden soil may work great for years and years, but eventually, it’ll need your attention to test the ground before you make amendments.
You’ll see the signs. Off-color leaves, the yellowish coloring between leaf veins, stunted growth, and even your harvest will have volumes to say.
The idea of testing is to know what you’re getting into before planting! If something is lacking, we can balance it before it’s too late!
Remember: Feed your soil, not your plants.
Why Is Soil Testing Important?
Everything plays a part in the collective good of the garden. From thorns to the worms, nothing is insignificant. Soil is one of the most overlooked and critical parts of the garden.
Healthy soil means a healthy harvest. To avoid issues, I recommend testing it before planting anything.
A soil test usually shows you two main things: the pH value, the nutrients present, and their quantities.
Testing soil for PH and Organic Content
The concept of soil testing spans beyond testing for organic content and pH. We must check for structure, compaction, soil organisms, worms, and drainage.
The perfect garden soil is easily workable and porous to allow aeration. A compact patch doesn’t support soil life and is difficult to maintain.
Earthworm importance during soil testing
We also check for worms in the soil sample. These worms move across the soil, eat from the organic matter, and their waste works as a nitrogen fertilizer.
The presence of earthworms naturally means that the soil is fertile and alive with microorganisms.
Collecting the soil sample correctly.
Taking the correct sample is crucial to get the right results. To take a sample for testing. Make sure that the soil is neither too wet nor too dry. Dig about 6-7 inches deep holes at various locations in the garden.
Take a fistful from each hole and add it to a bucket. Mix the various samples and separate a cup of soil for testing. Leave the final piece to dry for 24 hours before testing.
Conducting Garden Soil Tests At Home
You can conduct a soil test at home with a DIY kit or send the sample to a lab. The test determines the soil sample’s organic content (nutrients) and pH value.
The organic content tells you which macronutrients and micronutrients are in the soil. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are among the macronutrients.
Micronutrients include calcium, sulfur, copper, etc. The test also recommends the number of fertilizers and compost you must add to cover the deficient nutrients.
This saves you a considerable amount of money otherwise wasted on unwanted fertilizers.
The fertility of the soil is the future of civilization.
Albert Howard
Soil pH determines whether your garden soil is acidic (below 7) or alkaline (above 7). A value of 7.0 is considered neutral on the pH scale. Most plants thrive in a slightly acidic or neutral (6.5-7.0) pH range.
Some plants, like blueberries, prefer acidic soil, and planting a neutral plant in acidic soil or vice versa is a recipe for disaster.
The proper pH enables plants to use soil nutrients from the soil actively.
A soil test can make or break your garden. Don’t overdo anything, but make sure your soil is ready before sowing.
What Exactly Does the Soil Test Do?
The soil test helps you decide if your garden soil is ready for planting.
It determines the fertility and health of the soil. My years of experience in the garden have taught me that every plant is different. A specific habitat is needed for them to grow, and they even die if those conditions aren’t met.
Soil testing takes the guesswork out of gardening. You won’t waste money on fertilizers that aren’t needed. Nor plant anything in the wrong place. It tells you,
- Structure.
- Percentage of organic matter.
- Nutrients.
- pH value.
5 Reasons Why You Should Test the Garden Soil Before Planting:
As we’re on the topic of whether we should or shouldn’t test the soil. Let me give you five reasons why testing is something you won’t regret doing.
DID YOU KNOW? It takes 500 years to produce just under an inch of topsoil, the most productive soil layer.
1. Understand your soil:
The first reason why you should test the soil is to avoid any surprises. Testing your samples gives you a solid number to work with. Even if the allotment is unused, the weeds may swallow water and nutrients over the years.
You can’t just keep using the nutrients. There is time to take, and there’s time to give. There may or may not be a problem, but it’s better to make sure than regret later.
2. Nutrient Deficiency and Fertilizers:
The soil test report tells you which nutrients are present in your soil sample and gives you the same macronutrients and micronutrients.
In that way, you can prepare your soil for planting. In case of a nutrient deficiency, the test recommends the amount of fertilizer you should use. You can save money on fertilizers that you don’t need.
3. The acidity of the Soil:
The soil test also gives you the pH value of the sample. The pH values lie between zero to fourteen.
The perfect soil pH value to sustain most plants is between 6.5 and 7.0. Many plants can’t sustain acidic or alkaline soil. In this case, it helps you decide which seed you should or shouldn’t sow.
4. Soil Structure and Aeration:
Soil texture is important for several reasons. The perfect garden soil allows air and water to pass to the roots and keep them hydrated. Worms and soil life are essential for aeration and drainage.
Not every soil is a good place for these microorganisms and earthworms. Without understanding your soil structure, you won’t know if the ground is suitable for crops. And what kind of crops will grow better in your garden?
5. Soil Life:
A simple soil test can tell you if your garden has enough earthworms. The gardener can never underestimate the importance of these tiny worms.
Your soil says a lot about the microorganisms and worms that want to live there. A garden alive with earthworms is supposed to be healthy, and having earthworms also indicates beneficial microorganisms.
The movement of these worms creates tunnels that allow oxygen and water to pass through.
Remember, One plant’s wine is another plant’s poison.
How to Take a Soil Sample?
Taking a good soil sample is critical. How else are you supposed to get the right results? The soil sample should be about one and a half cups, even for a small garden.
It needs to be the perfect representative of the entire garden soil. To achieve that,
- Dig at least half a dozen 6 inches deep holes at various random locations in your garden.
- The samples mustn’t be collected near a fence or after spreading the compost. Clear the weeds, compost, and other scraps from the soil’s surface before digging.
- Suppose you’re taking a sample from a greenhouse with various crops. Take soil samples from distinct plant species to ensure you’ve covered everything.
- The sample should be moist but not wet. Collect a fistful of soil from each hole and mix all the pieces in a container.
- Clean the sample’s stones, insects, roots, and weeds before drying. Let it dry for about 24 hours before testing.
- Wear clean garden gloves to avoid contaminating the soil samples.
Soil Testing:
So, you’ve taken your soil sample, and it’s time to test it. There are two ways to approach soil testing.
- Do-It-Yourself soil testing.
- Send the soil sample to a lab for testing.
Do-it-Yourself Soil Testing:
Rest assured, if you’re a seasonal gardener and want to test your soil. The process is pretty simple. I prefer the Luster Leaf Soil pH Kit, which tests the pH level and pushes nutrients into your soil.
The kit I linked to is available on Amazon. This kit is fantastic, as it will give you 200 tests.
- 200 Tests, 50 ea PH, N, P, and K
- Simple, Easy To Use
- Sturdy Plastic Moulded Case
- PH Preference List for hundreds of plants.
- Tips on altering soil conditions at home.
Laboratory Soil Testing:
If you’re a home garden owner, DIY soil testing is perfect. Several laboratories can do various soil tests for a more serious gardener. I live in the UK and use Laboratories, and Agrolab or Lancrop is an excellent option for those living in the United States. You get the test results back in about a week.
List of soil testing laboratories
What are We Testing the Soil For?
We’re testing the soil to determine the nutrients and pH value of the earth.
Ph Value
Soil pH determines the acidity of your garden soil, and it’s measured on a scale from zero to 14. Zero is highly acidic, 14.0 is highly alkaline, and 7.0 is the neutral pH value.
Most plants grow well in slightly acidic or neutral soil (6.5 to 7.0).
Blueberries and azaleas are among the acid-loving crops. Growing them in alkaline soil is not recommended. You can test the pH values with a DIY soil kit or send the sample to a laboratory.
| Acidic | Neutral | Alkaline |
| 0 – 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 – 14.0 |
Organic Content:
To stay healthy and to grow, your body needs certain nutrients. Blood tests confirm whether we’re in good shape or need supplements. Our gardens are no different from ours!
They also need proper care and supplements (fertilizers) occasionally. Soil tests reveal a nutrient deficiency in the soil and recommend the appropriate fertilizer.
Macronutrients and Micronutrients:
There are two types of nutrients present in our garden soil. Macronutrients are found in large quantities in the ground, usually about 0.1%. Only trace amounts of Micronutrients are found and needed in your garden soil.
Any home kit can measure the top three essential nutrients (Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium).
You must address any deficiency in these three ASAP. The micronutrients aren’t tested in the DIY kits, and lab tests are the way to go if you want to test for them.
| Macronutrients | Micronutrients |
| Nitrogen (N) | Iron (Fe) |
| Phosphorus (P) | Manganese (Mn) |
| Potassium (K) | Zinc (Zn) |
| Calcium (C) | Copper (Cu) |
| Magnesium (Mg) | |
| Sulfur (S) |
Soil is at the bottom of the food chain, yet it is the cornerstone of life on earth.
Simple In-house Soil Tests:
The soil is the first thing that catches your eye, and the color, texture, and especially the smell are mesmerizing. Today, I’ll share four simple soil tests you can do at home without any testing kit.
1. Soil Structure:
To test the composition and structure of your garden soil. Dig a hole of about 6 inches when the soil is moderately moist. Hold the soil in your hands and examine it.
Garden soil is classified into three basic categories. Among the three types, loamy soil is considered perfect for gardening.
| Texture | Nutrients | Aeration | Drainage | |
| Sandy Soil | Broken rock particles. | Doesn’t retain nutrients | Good enough | It doesn’t hold water |
| Loamy Soil | Small particles, smooth yet grainy. | Nutrient-rich. | Very good. | Moderate drainage |
| Clay Soil | Very fine grains. | nutrient-rich | Very bad. | Slow drainage. |
2. Which type of soil do you have?
Sandy Soil. The sand particles are fairly grainy and will fall apart as soon as taken out of the container.
Loamy Soil. The soil particles are fine and smooth, holding water and nutrients better than sand. You’re lucky if your garden has loamy soil.
Clay Soil. The particles in clay soil are very finely grained, nutrient-rich, and hold too much water. Clay is not suitable for gardens.
3. Monitor soil life during soil testing
A strong presence of worms means your soil is healthy. Earthworms do more than half our jobs in the garden, breaking the organic matter and aerating the soil. Their presence usually means your soil has a thriving ecosystem with the most beneficial bacteria and fungi.
You can confirm the presence of earthworms by digging a 6-inch hole. Make sure that the soil is moist.
It shouldn’t be wet or dry. Please take out the shovel and count the number of earthworms on it. If it’s ten or above, your soil is perfect, and less than five earthworms are not good signs.
It means your soil lacks organic matter to feed the organisms. Productive agricultural soil contains between 3% to 6% organic matter and uses compost to make up for the organic matter.
The video below discusses nine reasons you should make compost at home. This can help to amend the soil after testing your soil. But it explains the importance of soil life.
4. Water Drainage:
Water drainage is not something your soil test can report, and it’s crucial because many plants, specifically culinary herbs, can’t survive in wet soil. To test the drainage, dig a six-inch hole, fill it with water, and let it drain. If it takes 4 hours to drain, your soil has a drainage issue.
5. Insects and disease:
Insects and diseases can kill a perfect harvest. An active presence of soil organisms means there is less chance for pests and diseases. These issues show signs in several ways.
To test the soil for pests and diseases. Gently dig the area around a plant, preferably a weed. Pull it out once you’ve reached the root depth. Look out for,
- Brown/yellow mushy roots.
- Stunted growth.
Which Factors Can Affect Your Soil Test Result:
Sometimes, the soil test doesn’t correctly identify the issues. Several factors can affect the results of your soil test. A few most common factors are,
- Season.
- Moisture.
- Inadequate water drainage.
- Plant disease and pests.
- Sampling depth.
- Crop removal.
The best way to avoid improper results is to take special care of the sample. Ensure it’s not too moist, the temperature is average, and you dug a six-inch hole to extract the sample. We average the result by mixing pieces from the garden overall.
Pro Tip: If your garden suffers from a disease or has a pest issue, it’s better to take care of the problem before sampling for a soil test to avoid misguided results.
How Often Should I Test the Soil?
A soil test is recommended every three years if your garden is healthy and thriving. You should also monitor the fertility of the soil by keeping the previous reports handy.
In case of any problems like a disease or pest issue. Consider testing more often (once a year). I would also recommend trying again if you’ve regularly used compost and fertilizers to monitor the progress.
Related Questions:
How do I test my garden soil?
Soil testing is a simple and inexpensive procedure. You can test your soil at home with a DIY soil kit or send it to a laboratory for a more in-depth analysis, and there are homemade tests to test soil without a soil kit too.
We’ve already discussed some simple tests earlier, but you can also test the soil’s pH with vinegar and baking soda.
- Put two tablespoons of soil in a container and pour half a cup of vinegar. If it fizzes, your soil is alkaline with a pH of 7 or 8.
- If it doesn’t fizz after the vinegar test, add distilled water in 2 tablespoons of the soil and half a baking soda cup. If it fizzes, you have acidic soil (with ph values of 5 or 6).
- If it doesn’t fizz at all, then congrats! Your soil is neutral (7.0 pH).
What to add to garden soil before planting?
The plants in our garden continuously need nutrients and water, and they get those from the soil, which is why the soil needs fertilizer and compost. You can add a couple of things to your garden soil before planting.
- Fertilizers.
- Composted organic matter.
- Raw organic matter, green manure, and mulch.
How do I make good garden soil?
Soil is the life and soul of your garden. Better soil means a better harvest. To improve the quality of your soil,
- Add 4 to 5 inches of well-rotted compost or organic matter to the soil.
- Cover the organic matter with wood chips, straws, and bark. The mulch retains water on the surface and invites earthworms.
- Use fertilizers if necessary.
- Add a 3-4 inch compost layer annually or every six months.
- Grow cover crops or green manure.
Is baking soda suitable for plants?
Baking soda doesn’t pose any apparent harm to plants, and it helps prevent powdery mildew and foliar diseases in plants.
Experienced gardeners recommend regular use of baking soda during spring to fight plant disease. It’s also used as a fungicide to disrupt the ionic balance in the fungal cells.
The solution of baking soda with water is said to neutralize acidic soil.
What is the best soil for gardening?
The best soil for gardening is loam. It’s a combination of sand, silt, and clay. The fine grainy texture allows the loam to hold an adequate about of water without getting too wet.
It’s also rich in nutrients and perfect for fruit or vegetable growth. The particles are not too small or grainy, ideal for water drainage, holding nutrients, and retaining soil life.
FAQs on Should You Test Your Garden Soil?
Is a soil test necessary?
A soil test is necessary when you first move into your new home to establish the condition of the soil to see if it is capable of supporting plant life. A soil test should be performed at least every three years on good ground or yearly while amending the soil.
When should soil be tested?
Soil should be tested every three years for loamy soil previously shown to be in good condition. Or yearly while you are amending poor-quality soil. This is important to ensure you are not over or under-fertilizing.
What does a soil test tell you?
A good soil test will tell you the pH, NPK, and micro and macro nutrients available in the soil and their amounts. A soil test is the first step to knowing exactly what to amend. The soil test will provide the information required to balance the soil in your garden.
How long is a soil test good for?
A soil test is good for at least a year and up to three years. This depends on whether you are amending the soil in your garden or just maintaining the soil: one year while amending and three years for maintenance.
Is a soil test expensive?
Soil tests are not expensive. Many DIY kits start around $20, allowing you to test your soil at home; These give the basics of NPK and pH. For a little more budget (starting around $35), you can have a lab test your soil, which is more in-depth.
Conclusion
I know you are itching to start planting out in your new garden. But take the time to do a soil test; it will save you so much money, heartache, and time later in the season.
It will also confirm that you’re doing it right for your plants and your garden’s overall health.
