Soil fertility and soil pH can be intimidating to both new and experienced gardeners. But your soil isn’t as mysterious as you think, as long as you start by having a soil test done. “Testing your ...

One of the biggest factors affecting the health of plants in your garden is the pH of the soil, which is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 7.0 is neutral while that above 7.0 is alkaline ...

Healthy plants are the most critical component of a thriving garden. And one of the best ways to keep them that way is to make sure your soil's pH level suits their needs. Every plant requires a ...

The jar test is a simple way to determine soil composition. Take a clear jar and fill it with three parts soil and one part ...

Applying lime when lime is not needed may have disastrous results in your garden, landscape and lawn. Determining soil pH is important in gardening. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being ...

Knowing, understanding, and controlling your soil’s pH are all crucial to having a successful garden. The tool to help you with all three is a soil test kit. The best soil test kit provides you with a ...

Gardeners already know the importance of testing their garden beds every few years. If soil amendments are added annually, then the soil test should be done more often to be sure that nutrient levels ...

Soil is a key ingredient in any backyard garden, so it’s important to make sure it’s the healthiest it can be. That’s why longtime gardeners – and soil science experts – recommend testing. Knowing the ...

The color of hydrangea flowers can change from pink to purple and blue by tweaking the soil. How do other plants react to those changes? Sydney Kozak explored just that. Her project, “Does changing ...

Spring is just around the corner, and enthusiastic gardeners are already plotting to get their gardens in shape for the growing season. From soil to sunshine, it all takes planning. Whether you’re new ...

The question I receive most frequently from vegetable gardeners: How much fertilizer should I apply? The second most frequently asked question: How can I get better vegetable yields in my garden? Both ...