How to Test Soil in the Home Garden

Gardening experts everywhere recommend that you test your soil before doing anything else.

And, if your garden is suffering, you’re just starting out as a gardener, or you’re a serial fertilizer, I recommend the same.

Understanding your soil’s nutrient composition and pH can help you to troubleshoot issues and fertilize appropriately, which can have a huge impact on the overall health and productivity of your garden.

But how in the world do you test your soil?

Well, you probably shouldn’t – professionals should.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Store bought kits are widely available, but the accuracy of these is questionable at best. In particular, if pH is off by just one degree in either direction, any amendments you make could do more harm than good.

And while kits are relatively inexpensive and you can usually get more than one use out of them, you’re on your own to interpret the results and figure out a plan.

If you send a sample to a lab to be professionally analyzed, however, you are guaranteed more accurate results.

Not to mention, you’re usually given suggestions for fertilization and amendments depending on what type of plants you’re planning to use.

Keep reading to find out who should test your soil, how to get a sample to them, and what you should do with the results.

The best way to get your soil professionally analyzed is to reach out to your state or county’s local extension office.

If you have no clue what I’m talking about when I say “local extension office,” you’re not alone. It’s one of those often referenced, rarely explained blanket statements of