If you are a keen gardener you will understand the joy of growing plants and flowers, however sometimes the growing process can be tough. There are several reasons why this might be so, but one of the first things you should look at is the acidity or alkalinity of your soil. You can do this by using a soil pH meter such as the luster leaf 1840 rapitest soil ph meter.
Why Should You Test Your Soil pH?
The general well being of the plants and flowers in your garden is largely dependent on the pH balance of the earth in which they are planted as well as the soil moisture (which itself can be measured by a garden soil moisture meter. Whilst it is certainly true that most plants prefer a neutral pH, others, such as strawberries, thrive better in slightly more acidic soil. Therefore carefully monitoring the pH of the soil is important for the following reasons:
- You can be more sure of what to plant in your garden
- You can find out whether or not you need to adjust the pH of your garden to grow what you want
- You can reduce some plant diseases thrive in at different pH levels
- pH levels in the soil affect the availability of nutrients to your plants
Modifying Soil pH
There are a number of easy fixes that a gardener of any experience can carry out. If you find that you soil is too acidic, you can add lime to your soil to increase the pH. If you find that your soil is too alkaline, adding a layer of manure can be used to bring the pH down. Using your garden soil meter can help you get the most from your garden and might even increase the amount of produce from your vegetable garden.