How to Test a Soil's PH
- 1). Collect soil samples from your garden. The number of samples and depth of samples depends on what you are growing. For lawns, take about 10 samples 3 to 4 inches deep. For plants, the number of samples is the same but the depth is between 6 and 8 inches. For trees and shrubs, you need 3 or 4 samples of the top foot of soil.
- 2). Mix the soil samples together in a clean bucket.
- 3). Collect a 1-cup sample from the mixed soil and allow the soil sample air dry.
- 4). Mix the reactive compound with the specified amount of soil and distilled water from the testing kit instruction.
- 5). Match the color of the water to the pH chart provided by the testing kit when the water changes colors.
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