How To Analyze Your Soil To Improve Your Garden

Gardening Know How

How To Test Your Soil. Whether you're an avid gardener or just a beginner, understanding how to care for your soil is essential for growing healthy plants. But before we dig in, let's learn how you can test your soil before coming up with a plan.

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00:00If you're starting a new garden or have struggled with crops recently,

00:04soil testing can be a valuable tool for identifying problems.

00:08A soil test will give you valuable information about your soil's pH level, nutrient content,

00:14and organic matter. You can purchase a soil test kit from a garden center or online,

00:19or you can send a sample of your soil to a lab for analysis. To take a sample, use a trowel to

00:25take thin slices of soil from various areas of the garden. Mix the soil samples, then allow the

00:31blend to dry and then place it into an appropriate container or bag. If you want a better idea of

00:38your soil texture, an at-home mason jar soil test can be performed. Take a quart jar with a tight

00:45fitting lid and add soil from several different areas of the garden. Be sure to take samples from

00:518 to 10 inches below the soil level. Add clear water to fill the jar about 3 quarters full,

00:57then add a teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Secure the lid and shake the jar for at least 3 minutes.

01:04Then let it sit for 24 to 48 hours. The heaviest material including gravel or coarse sand will sink

01:11to the bottom. Above that will be smaller sand and silt particles with clay at the top. As you can see here,

01:19my soil is a mix of many materials including sand and clay. Now it's time to get out there,

01:24get your hands dirty, and get started on that path to healthy soil. Until next time, happy gardening!

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