Testing Garden Soil pH Levels: A Beginner's Guide

It is extremely important to maintain the right pH level of the soil to ensure the health and productivity of the plants in your garden. The pH level of soil determines how it absorbs nutrients and water that your plants require and influences microbial activity in the soil.

But what does this mean, we have a handy guide that helps you get the most from your garden with the right soil and get perfect results every time.

What is pH

To ensure that your plants are healthy and thriving, it's important to understand and keep track of the pH levels of your garden soil. pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of soil on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Most plants prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH range of 6 to 7. By testing the pH of your garden soil, you can determine if any adjustments are necessary to ensure optimal growth for your chosen trees and plants.

Importance of testing the pH of your soil

Plants require a wide range of nutrients to grow and thrive obtained from the soil. If the pH level is too acidic or too alkaline, it can negatively impact the growth and development of your plants. For example, an overly acidic soil can result in a deficiency of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, while an overly alkaline soil can lead to a deficiency of iron, manganese, and zinc.

To ensure that your plants grow healthy and strong, it is essential to test the soil pH regularly. This will allow you to identify any imbalances in the soil pH and take corrective measures to create an ideal environment for your plants. If the soil is too acidic, you can add lime to neutralise the acidity, while if the soil is too alkaline, you can add sulphur to increase the acidity.

Methods for testing soil pH

There are several methods available for testing the pH of your garden soil. One common method is to use a pH testing kit that is available in your local British Garden Centres store.  This typically includes a probe or testing strips with a solution that is inserted into the soil to provide an instant pH reading.

How to read the results

Once you have conducted the soil pH test, you will receive a numerical pH value that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of your soil. If the pH is below 6, your soil is too acidic, while a pH above 7 indicates alkaline soil. Depending on the results, you can adjust by adding lime to raise the pH or sulphur to lower it, ensuring your plants have the best growing conditions.

Multi-purpose compost

This type of compost is suitable for all kinds of gardening tasks, like sowing seeds, planting in pots or borders, and taking cuttings. There are various blends available with different ingredients, so depending on the type you choose, your plants will be fed for varying amounts of time or may require less watering by releasing water only when necessary. You can select from different mixtures, such as peat-free and with or without John Innes, but make sure to check the label if you want to be sure.

Peat free compost

More and more gardeners are choosing to use peat-free composts because of the negative impact that peat mining can have on the environment. Peat-free compost is great for sowing seeds and rooting cuttings and can be used for a variety of other gardening tasks depending on the specific type. Typically, these composts are made with ingredients such as wood fibre, composted bark, coir (coconut fibre), and green compost, which are mixed with inorganic materials like grit and perlite. Peat-free compost is ideal for filling containers like tubs, planters, and hanging baskets for planting annual flowers or vegetables.

John Innes compost

The John Innes compost range is a great choice for gardeners who want to create a rich and healthy growing environment for their plants. This range contains a carefully crafted blend of loam, peat, and horticultural grit with added nutrients. Unlike other composts that contain peat, John Innes composts are designed to reduce peat usage, making them more eco-friendly. By using the John Innes formulations, you can maximise your growing opportunities and produce plants with particularly strong and healthy root development.

Ericaceous compost

Ericaceous compost is a specialised type of compost that caters to the needs of plants that grow in acidic soil conditions. These plants include heathers, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and blueberries, among others. This type of compost typically consists of materials that help to maintain or lower the pH of the soil, making it more suitable for the growth and development of these plants. Common components of ericaceous compost include sphagnum moss, pine bark, and peat, which add organic matter, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms to the soil.

Potting compost

Potting compost is a versatile and lightweight soil mix that is specifically designed to be used for starting seeds indoors. This mixture consists of peat moss, tree bark, and various other ingredients, which are then steam-heated to eliminate any potential bacteria or diseases that could harm the delicate young root systems of young plants. As a result, potting compost provides a light, airy and sterile environment with excellent drainage properties, which is ideal for creating the perfect growing conditions for your indoor garden.