Five Reasons You Should Test Your Soil's pH Level

Testing your soil can play an important role in the way that you manage your garden or crops. Knowing what type of soil you have, and the pH level, can give you a better idea of what types of plants are better suited for your area. Many people can pay to have a professional or commercial soil test done, but for those who are more amateur gardeners, you can simply test your soil by using pH strips or a pH meter. There are a number of different ways to perform a soil test, so you may want to do your research to help you determine what process will work best for you. Below are some of the most important reasons as to why you should pH test your soil:

1.) Slow Or Stunted Plant Growth.

Many people think that their plants just aren't "happy" or they aren't getting enough sunlight or water. Despite the fact that all of these factors are important, you might be overlooking the importance of your soil. If your plants aren't able to grow properly because your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, then adding more light and water won't fix the problem.

2.) You Have Unknown Or Untested Soil.

If you're not sure if you have more acidic or more alkaline soil, you might be planting the wrong kinds of plants for your garden. Getting a pH test of your soil will let you know which types of plants will work best with your soil, or if you should attempt to raise or lower the pH of your soil.

3.) You Are Unsure Why Plants Aren't Surviving.

If you've tried to add some plants to your garden and they didn't survive, you might have not looked at what type of soil they need. Different types of plants and crops need different types of soil to grow properly. If you were unsure of your soil type and planted the wrong kind of plant, it probably didn't do so well in your garden.

4.) Desire To Plant A New Crop Or Garden.

Before planting any new type of plant or crop, you'll want to be sure to give it the optimal environment for it to grow in. You'll also want to make sure that the soil you have will work with this plant, and if you will need to take any steps to accommodate this new plant or crop into your garden.

5.) You Want To Provide Extra Plant Care.

You always want your plants to grow properly, so why not give them what they need? Looking into what type of soil you have might give you some insight as to what changes you need to make in your gardening regimen.

All in all, it's important to test your soil no matter what purpose you are using it for. If you don't know how to care for your soil properly, your plants might not grow successfully! It's important to give your plants, garden and crops the soil that they need so that they can grow properly and develop into the plants that you've always wanted. At Teraganix, we carry a variety of gardening products and pH test strips so you can get your gardening back on track.