What is a Soil Test Kit?

As the name suggests, a soil test kit is a product used to test the composition of soil found in the garden. While there are many types of kit that perform varying functions, the most common is a pH testing kit, which measures the acidity of the soil along with other properties found within.

Another common type of kit is used to determine the various components found within the soil. This allows the user to identify the volume of key nutrients needed for healthy growing soil including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.

Finally, there are kits that are used to test the moisture levels within the soil. While less commonly used, these are an essential product for growing certain types of plants that have strict watering requirements.

What are the Benefits of a Soil Test Kit?

So, why exactly do you need to know so much about soil? Well, anyone that loves gardening certainly benefits from knowing more about the soil they plan on growing with, as its condition will determine what you can grow.

For example, if soil is missing an essential nutrient then it makes growing plants more challenging. Soil has three key nutrients – potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen – and an imbalance of these may inhibit plant growth.

With the right balance of nutrients, plants in your garden are healthier and grow more vigorously. Fruits are larger, flowers more colourful, and the overall health of the plant remains high throughout growing season.

So, by using one of these kits you can test the condition of your garden soil to determine its suitability for growing. If something is missing, you can then treat the soil to restore its nutritional balance, be it phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, or even just more moisture.

Moreover, using one of these kits is surprisingly easy. You don’t need to be an expert in biology to understand how to use one, and the results are fast and incredibly accurate when using the best soil testing kits.

This saves the hassle of using guesswork when trying to grow in your garden. Most garden soil needs a bit of tinkering to make it perfect for growing, and these kits allow you to determine exactly what is needed before you start growing anything, saving yourself time and money.  

How to Use a Soil Test Kit

How kits test the soil differs depending on the product. Some involve little preparation while others require more setup before testing, although each is still simple enough to use, especially as they all come with clear instructions.

Here is a general step by step guide for how to test garden soil:

Get Your Supplies

Beyond buying the testing kit there are some other supplies you will want to use when testing the soil. These include:

• Trowel for digging some soil
• Container to hold a soil sample
• Distilled water if using a kit that requires you to mix a few substances together – any bottled water should be fine

Decide Where You are Taking Samples From

You may want to test one or several samples of soil depending on what you are measuring in the soil and what you plan on growing. In fact, it is a good idea to get samples from several areas you plan on growing in – and even some spots you have not planned on growing in yet – as this helps give a clearer idea of the overall soil composition throughout your garden.

Take Your Soil Samples

Now it is time to dig up some soil samples for testing. Grab your trowel and dig deeper than you normally would for planting, roughly around six inches but deeper if possible. You want some deep soil as this provides more accurate information on soil composition compared to the upper layers of soil, which are misleading due to being topsoil.

Also, take a healthy sample of soil, especially if soil is mixed with a lot stones, roots, and other material. Take more than you think you need and you should be fine.

Once the samples are gathered it is time to start testing. Again, steps may vary depending on what you are testing the soil for. Here is a quick overview for each type of testing:

Moisture Levels: When testing moisture levels it is important that you test the sample as quickly as possible. Leaving soil out for too long causes it to dry, leading to less accurate readings, so test it immediately after gathering the sample.

Liquid Testing Kits: These kits require a different approach to testing by adding liquid to the soil sample. Most of these kits require you to add the liquid to the soil and then shake or mix it all together. Leave it for about ten minutes and the colour should have changed, with different colours indicating the levels of each substance in the soil.

Powder/Capsule Testing Kits: This type uses a similar method to liquid kits, with the main difference being you combine a powder or capsule with the soil sample instead of a liquid. Again, leave for the designated time and then check the colours to determine the soil composition.

Reviewing Your Results

Always closely follow manufacturer instructions when reviewing the results of the soil test, as even waiting just a few minutes longer can drastically change the results of the test. For example, liquid and powder kits must be checked within the stated time frame – if left too long the colours further change – causing inaccurate composition measurements.

Therefore, you want to review the results as quickly as possible. You may also want to have a few samples side-by-side to reference the different colours and the rate in which they change.

There are some kits that are easier to read, with many featuring a small dial that tells composition on the device, while others include a reference chart for comparing the colours. Always reference the referral chart on your soil kit to make sure you know what each colour is measuring if it is included with the kit.

You may even find some testing requires you to send the soil for professional analysis. While less convenient and more expensive, these kits are some of the most accurate. For most kits used at home, simply follow the guidelines to ensure you accurately measure the readings.