How to test your soil

Before planting anything (perennials, vegetables, trees, shrubs, etc.), it's important to make sure the soil in the area is suitable, as each plant has specific pH requirements. Readings of 7.0 are neutral. Readings above 7.0 indicate alkaline soil. Those below 7.0 are acidic. Soil on Long Island is generally acidic, so many plants will require amendments such as lime to thrive.

Click photo for a step-by-step slideshow


Vegetables thrive best in soil with a pH of 6.2-6.8; Lawns prefer 6.3-6.7, but should do fine anywhere in the 6.0-7.0 range; herbs like things neutral, around 7.0, but most can handle 6.5.

Photos by my very talented daughter, Justine.

Post a comment

Search Garden Detective

Recent Posts

Popular Topics

Categories

Feed Subscription

If you use an RSS reader, you can subscribe to this blog's feed [What is this?]

Subscribe to feed RSS feed   |   Subscribe to feed ATOM feed

Video

Archives