Soil Testing Tips

The quality of your soil has a profound effect on everything you grow in your garden. The key elements affecting our soils are the clay content, the pH and soil fertility.  Soil pH is one of the most important factors influencing your gardening success, because it affects the availability of nutrients to plants, as well as the microbial activity in your soil.  No matter the quality of the fertilizer or supplement you apply, the plant can’t use it if the pH is too high.  Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil. On the pH scale, 7.0 is neutral, above 7 is alkaline, below 7 is acidic. Bleach for example is very alkaline. Lemon juice is very acidic. Most plants prefer a pH of between 6.5 and 7. Our soils are typically greater than 7.  Home test kits are a quick and relatively easy way to get a reading on pH.

Soil test meters are an economical way to test pH. Meters let you test your soil in multiple locations (yes, it can vary greatly across the garden), quickly and easily. Meters come either with a digital or an analog readout. You don’t have to mix anything and you can do the test as often as you like in a short period of time. 

There are also kits which utilize a capsule system to accomplish the test. You combine soil, water and a test capsule in the test tube provided, and then compare the color with the included chart to get the answer.

You can buy test kits specifically for pH, or kits that include pH plus Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).

Home test kits are easy and handy, but to get a more complete understanding of your soil, we recommend you get a soil test analysis from the laboratory at Colorado State University. You can get a mailer and test instructions in the Hardgoods section of the store. The mailer is free, but you do pay a fee to CSU for the test.  In return, you will receive a comprehensive analysis of your soil.

Here’s another quick test for you to determine the makeup of your soil. You need a clean jar with a lid, some dish soap and water. Put 4-5 ounces of soil in the bottom of the jar. Add enough water to fill the jar 2/3 full.  Add a drop or two of dishwasher soap. Put the lid on and shake well. Let sit undisturbed for 24 hours. You’ll see that the soil has settled into layers. The first layer will be sand. The second layer will be silt and the third layer clay. Organic material will float to the top. Most of the time, you’re going to see a small amount of sand and silt, a large percentage of clay and a small amount of organic material. To improve this soil, you need to add more organic material such as peat moss, coconut coir or sheep manure. Once you've gotten your test results, bring us the results.  We'll recommend the right amendments to make your garden soil healthier and more productive.