Home > Projects >

How to pH Test Soil

You will need: pH Testing Kit

It is important to know the pH of your soil before you plant. Some plants prefer more acidic soil (lower pH) and some plants prefer alkaline (higher pH). Home testing kits are readily available and are easy to use.

Best time to do it:

Step 1

Take a sample of soil from 10cm below ground level in the area you wish to plant and place it, with the indicator chemical, in the testing tube.

Step 2

Add the required amount of de-ionised water to the tube to make a solution.

Step 3

Seal the top of the tube and shake the contents well for several minutes. Then stand upright and allow the mixture to settle for at least 30 minutes.

Step 4

Once the mixture has settled check the colour against the pH chart. The red end of the spectrum is acidic, green is neutral and blue to purple is alkaline.

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Let's talk about mental health this Monday, says Plants and Minds

Gardening and Flower Shows 2026

How to Make a Christmas Wreath: A Step by Step Guide

Why Poinsettias Mean Christmas: The Festive Flower's Surprising History and Symbolism

Gardening Projects for January

---

How to: Maintenance Pruning

How to Make a Bird Feeder

How to pH Test Soil

How to Protect Containers

Latest Gardening Videos

---

When and how should I prune a jostaberry?

How can I stop my roses suffering from wind-rock?

How do I protect container plants from the cold?

Moving House and Taking the Garden with You | Garden Ideas | Val Bradley

Why are there brown / black marks on my Hellebores?

How do I treat liverwort?

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Butchart Gardens
British Columbia, Canada

Gardens of the Generalife, Alhambra
Granada, Spain

Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Bangalore, India

Nongnooch Tropical Garden
Pattaya, Thailand

Eram Garden
Shiraz, Iran

The New York Botanical Garden
New York, United States