Soil tests for type
Testing your soil type
There are two main ways to test your soil type. Firstly, and especially if you need to know precisely what soil type you have to work with, you can send a sample of your soil to specialist laboratories whose contact details you can either find on the Internet or by asking at your local pharmacy (who may well also offer this service).
Secondly, and if you just need a general rule of thumb, you can follow these simple instructions, which you can also find on our site, www.plant-ark.com.
Alkaline soil test
Take a small sample cupful of your soil. Place it in a glass. Cover the sample generously with vinegar. If it fizzes your soil is alkaline!
Acid soil test
Take a small sample cupful of your soil. Place it in a glass. Cover the sample with water. Cover this with baking soda. If it fizzes your soil is acid!
Neutral soil test
Take two small sample cupfuls of your soil. Try the two previous tests – one test on each sample. If nothing happens in either case your soil is neutral (pH7) – lucky you!
References: www.plant-ark.com.
