To grow good plants, you need good soil. The only way to tell what your soil really needs is to take a soil test. Applying too much fertilizer could be detrimental to your plants. You could waste ...

Coming up with a good soil blend for your plants is a lot like creating a recipe. You wouldn’t expect to succeed with a recipe with no idea how much of each ingredient to add. A soil test kit allows ...

Soil testing could not be more important preceding tasks like establishing a new garden, diagnosing plant problems, determining fertilizer needs — and much more. But some situations don't require the ...

Now that we have experienced the first frost of the season, and the growing season for most garden and home landscape plants has come to an end, we as gardeners tend to start thinking about things we ...

Spring is in the air, and your garden is begging for attention. You’ve got seeds lined up, compost ready, and dreams of a backyard bursting with color. But here’s the twist: your soil might be ...

Knowing, understanding, and controlling your soil’s pH are all crucial to having a successful garden. The tool to help you with all three is a soil test kit. The best soil test kit provides you with a ...

One of the most common questions I receive from gardeners is, "What kind of fertilizer should I use?" They expect an easy answer, because there is a common misconception that the type of fertilizer ...

For a successful garden next spring, don’t guess — soil test! Over the past 34 gardening seasons, probably the most common question I have received from gardeners and homeowners is, "How much ...

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Colleen Hagerty Colleen Hagerty is a writer focused on emergency preparedness.

Whether you’re preparing for your first garden, planning next year’s plantings after a successful harvest or looking to install a lawn, your first step should be conducting a soil test. “Soil is one ...

Regularly testing your soil is more important than you might think for helping your plants thrive. Soil tests measure soil pH and nutrient content. The soil of established gardens should be tested ...