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

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

Essential Gardening Jobs for Early Winter

Gardening Projects for January

---

How to take Hardwood Cuttings

How to Propagate Mistletoe

How to: Maintenance Pruning

How to pH Test Soil

Latest Gardening Videos

---

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

How do I protect container plants from the cold?

Why are there brown / black marks on my Hellebores?

How do I treat liverwort?

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

How should I overwinter a potted Canna lily?

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Kenrokuen Garden
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne, Australia

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Cape Town, South Africa

Monet's Garden, Giverny
Giverny, France

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, United Kingdom