Learning How to Use a Soil PH Meter is Easy

What soil PH levels really tell us is what the acidity or alkaline levels are in our garden topsoil. Ranging between the highly acidic PH levels that start at zero to the highly alkaline of fourteen. Subsequently, a soil with a PH level of 7.0 is neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline. Take for instance; sweet water has a PH level of 7.0 or neutral.

1. Most fruit plants grow best in garden soil in the six points zero and six point five range.

2. Leafy vegetables grow best in garden soils with a PH level between, six point five and seven point zero.

3. When the PH is not at the proper level for a particular vegetable plant, no amount of water, fertilizer or sunshine will make the vegetable plant grow well.

1. When the Ph. of your garden soil is too acidic, below six point zero. Add pelletized lime, or a good organic option we can use is using wood ashes from the fireplace, to help increase your garden soil alkalinity. 

2. When your garden soil is a bit too alkaline, 7.0 and above, adds sulfur. Using, pine needles, tree leaves and Pete moss will help to increase the soil acidity levels in the soil organically.

I believe we can all agree, discovering why learning to use a soil PH meter is necessary and easy, provides us with all the information we need to ensure our gardening success.  Now all we need do buy ourselves a good soil PH meter, use what we have learned to grow healthy garden plants.

Remember, test the garden soil often, and in several spots around the garden, and take steps to adjust the PH when and where needed in your garden.

On the other hand, for those of us that prefers to have someone else do the dirty work of determining the PH of their garden soil. You can always have it tested by your local county extension office for a small fee. Their phone numbers is in the blue edged pages of your local phone book, or simply Google your county extension office and give them a call. They will be happy to send your dirt off for testing. Just keep in mind, plan on the results getting back to you in a week or so.

Personally, I rather not wait on some bureaucrat for the results of a test I can easily do myself. Using an inexpensive soil test kit, or for me the best option, a soil PH meter. That works well from 3 to 9 PH levels in minutes and ensure my garden success, how about you?

Much gardening success, Mike