Hello and welcome to Joe Shows How! One of the most important steps any homeowner can take to ensure a lush, green lawn, and happy, healthy plants is to perform a pH soil test at least once a year. That’s because a plant’s ability to absorb nutrients is dependent on soil that’s not too acidic nor too alkaline. Now, you can buy soil test kits for about $10, or make your own with some common household ingredients, as shown in this week’s video.
Start by testing the alkalinity of the soil: Scoop some soil into a clean container and add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar. Mix well and see what happens. If the soil starts to fizz, then the alkaline level is too high and you must amend the soil with sulfur. If there’s no reaction, then conduct a second test to see if the soil is too acidic.
Add some soil to a clean container, then sprinkle in 1/2 cup of baking soda and mix well. Next, pour in 1/2 cup of water. If the soil starts to fizz and bubble, then the acidity is too high and you must amend the soil with pulverized lime.
The easiest way to add amendments to your lawn or garden is with either a walk-behind drop spreader or handheld broadcast spreader.
I hope you like this tip and it helps you grow the happiest, healthiest lawn and garden in the whole neighborhood! Thanks for your support.