To test soil pH, there are several common methods with varying accuracy and complexity:
- Analog pH probes: Insert the probe directly into the soil, wait a few minutes, and read the pH from the dial. These are easy and quick but less accurate than lab tests.
- pH testing strips: Collect a soil sample, mix it with distilled water, and dip the strip into the mixture. The strip changes color to indicate pH, which you match to a chart.
- Digital pH meters: Similar to analog probes but give a direct numerical readout. You may still need to make a soil slurry with distilled water.
- Home pantry method (vinegar and baking soda): Take soil samples, place in two containers, add vinegar to one and baking soda to the other. Bubbling in the vinegar container indicates alkaline soil; bubbling with baking soda indicates acidic soil.
- Lab testing or mail-in kits: For most accurate results, collect a soil sample and send it to a lab for detailed analysis.
Steps for a common easy test with a digital or analog meter or strips generally include:
- Collect soil samples from multiple spots at the same depth.
- Mix soil with distilled water to form a slurry.
- Insert meter probe or dip test strip into the slurry, or observe color change/bubbling in kitchen method.
- Read and interpret results according to instructions.
For quick approximate testing directly in the garden, some meters can test soil pH in situ by inserting probes into damp soil prepared with distilled water. Overall, using a soil pH meter or test kit offers a good balance of ease and accuracy. The kitchen method is a simple, educational initial test but less precise. Lab tests provide the most reliable results if exact pH is needed for soil management decisions.
