Best Overall
MySoil Test Kit
Runner-Up
Soil Savvy Soil Test Kit
Best Bang for the Buck
Atree 3-in-1 Soil pH Meter Tester Kits
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Testing garden soilis the best direction to determine what it demand — if anything — and how much . A change of soil testing kit are available , but how authentic are they?Home gardenersrely on these kits when deciding whether to amend their territory , so to contract down the best stain test kits , we test for accuracy , reliability , and relaxation of utilization .
Soil quizzer range from simple pH strip to complex kits that nail deficiencies . Serious gardeners will require to reach for comprehensive tests . As Jon Traunfeld , film director of theHome & Garden Information Centerat University of Maryland , explain , “ We advocate that gardeners have their soil test by accredit soil testing science laboratory , public or private . A basic test that measures soil pH , important soil nutrient , and constitutive issue costs $ 20 to $ 25 . The labs also supply recommendations for lime hydrate and fertilizer if needed . ” These test are available forthwith from labs or through your county extension service business office .
For the medium home plate gardener though , it can be easier to buy a grime test kit up online , so that ’s what we tested . To ensure accuracy , we compared product results to test result acquired from the Kansas State University land testing lab . Our best-loved product ended up being theMySoil Test Kit — it was well-situated to use and the result were simple to interpret , and most significantly of all , they were accurate . Ahead , take what to look for when denounce for a soil test outfit , and find out why the following products are well suited for helping determine soil want .
Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
The kits we tested had to be accurate and relatively simple to use to earn a spot on this lineup . exam kits and equipment variegate by the type of trial being performed , so some are well suited to home gardener , while others invoke to commercial and agrarian agriculturalist . We tested a mountain chain of kits — some required mailing off a soil sample distribution for professional analysis , some involved chemical examination at home , and others required nothing more than sticking a probe in the land .
Our Ratings : repose of Use5/5 ; Accuracy5/5 ; Value5/5
For professional solution , check out the MySoil test kit , which allow gardener to amass dirt sample and have them professionally tested . The MySoil outfit offer an in - astuteness depth psychology , bring out the amount of micronutrients , NPK , and macronutrients in the tested land .
With the MySoil kit , we registered online and follow detailed didactics , gathering a great amount of dirt from various areas of the property , mixing it together well , and take the put up testing cup with the soil blend . Then we send my soil sample to MySoil as well as an extra soil sample to Kansas State University ’s farming department so we would have a timber comparison .
We received an email 6 days later with the consequence of the soil tests . We were impressed with the comprehensive results . The lab listed the levels of subsist nutrient , let in nitrogen , potassium , sulphur , calcium , iron , and more , and then equate our soil ’s stage with optimal levels , which were also list for each nutrient . We also received a bar chart that allowed us to visually liken the results , make them simple to realise .
Best of all , when the soil results from K - State came back , they were very snug to the MySoil results , making us feel very comfortable with the character of the MySoil lab results .
Get the MySoil soil test kit atAmazonorMySoil .
Runner-up
Our military rank : Ease of Use4/5 ; Accuracy5/5 ; Value5/5
The Soil Savvy soil tryout kit pop the question professional soil analysis and custom fertilizer good word . It come with a scoop , a collection cup hold liquid and a plastic ball , a prepaid stamp envelope , and complete instructions for collecting and submit a soil sample .
As with the other soil samples we sent in the mail service for professional examination , used the same land gathered from various spots and then intermingle well . We spooned the dirt into the cup , sealed it , and then give-up the ghost online and register the barcode that came with the kit .
Photo: amazon
The science lab took a petty longer than we ’d anticipated to get back to us , but in 11 day , we receive an email direct us to log on for my results . We were impressed by the accuracy of the test results — they were right in argumentation with the K - State results , and we also received customized testimonial for amending my grunge to make it healthier . The Soil Savvy recommendations were broken down by semisynthetic and constitutive fertilizer — telling me on the button how much of each to apply per 1,000 square feet to amend the soil .
Soil Savvy could have provided a better explanation of the resultant role , however . We understand what nutritive ratio are , but a newbie gardener might do good from further account of what the numbers mean . The lab prove for the 14 most common nutrients plus pH level .
Get the Soil Savvy grease test kit atAmazonorSoil Savvy .
Photo: amazon
Best Bang For The Buck
Not all gardener involve or want a nutritional analysis of their soil . Some just want to know the pH floor or how much light a plant would receive in a specific position . The Atree soil pH meter provides those answers accurately and at an affordable price .
We test the Atree metre by inserting it in various position in our flower garden . Over the years , we ’ve added amendments , such as sulfur , to specific areas where acid - hump plant are growing , and we were curious whether this childlike examiner would pick up on that . It did — the soil around our hydrangea , which we ’ve ameliorate to a great extent , tested at 6 on the pH scale of measurement , while the soil around our daisy register at 6.8 . Both seemed accurate base on our diachronic knowledge of our soil and the amendments we ’ve made .
We then tested both wet and clean levels in various garden spots , and the Atree again seemed precise . While this tester did n’t ascertain things like specific nutrient level , we found that it would be great for nurseryman who are happy with the health of their ground but would like to know if the light is adequate or whether the soil is drain well . The Atree did a good job measuring both .
Photo: amazon
Get the Atree soil test kit atAmazon .
Best Ph Strips
Garden Tutor Soil pH Test Strips Kit
Our evaluation : simpleness of Use5/5 ; Accuracy5/5 ; Value4/5
Garden Tutor ’s test strips put up quick results in learn indoor or outdoor territory ’s acid / alkaline content . The outfit contains 100 trial strips and also includes a 16 - page handbook that lists optimal pH degree for growing various plants .
We discover the Garden Tutor land pH trial airstrip to accurately determine the pH levels in various parts of our flower garden . The simplest of all the kits we test required blend soil from a specific garden area with H2O and then dipping it in a pH test strip . In a few seconds , sensible tabs on the test strip turn color , and we visually match them to the colour - taunt chart on the exterior of the bottleful to determine the amount of Elvis or alkalinity of the filth .
Photo: amazon
We tested the territory in an orbit we knew had a lower pH , as we ’ve added pH - bring down amendment for years . The Garden Tutor trial funnies determined that level to be 6.1 , which sound close and aligned with other pH test we performed . We then tested the soil in a spot we know was more alkaline and got a higher pH indication .
One thing we like the manufacturer would have included , however , was a wet - absorbent pack with the strips . We used about 20 landing strip in our initial tests , and all were fine . Three weeks later , however , the pH launch pad had all reverse brown , which we suspected was due to moist air suffer into the feeding bottle .
Get the Garden Tutor soil exam kit atAmazonorGarden Tutor .
Photo: amazon
Best Chemical Test
Luster Leaf 1662 Soil Test Kit
Our evaluation : Ease of Use4/5 ; Accuracy5/5 ; Value4/5
In addition to determining filth ’s pH level , the Luster Leaf grime test kit pinpoints the amount of the three most vulgar ground macronutrients : nitrogen , phosphorus , and atomic number 19 . There ’s no need for the drug user to send a sample to a science laboratory with this chemical test .
When we first launch the Luster Leaf test outfit eccentric , we were surprised by the number of vials and bottles of result . It did n’t look very easy . After reading the command , we found it was in reality pretty simple . Testing involved tuck soil , putting a midget bit in a glass vial , adding a specific liquidity and/or powder ( depending on the test ) , and shake the vial . We were then able to compare the color of the liquidity in the vial to an include chart to get the termination .
Photo: amazon
To determine the accuracy of the Luster Leaf tests , we compare the result we sustain from the mail - in soil mental testing . The NPK answer were close to the science laboratory results . For an at - place trial , we were pretty impressed . ( The pH , on the other script , tested lower than the laboratory tests , but the filth where we took the sampling for this test had been previously amended to low-spirited pH. )
The downside ? The manufacturer says the kit will perform 40 trial . We found that to be inaccurate . We followed the instructions cautiously and had only enough answer to do about 15 trial .
Get the Luster Leaf 1662 grease trial run kit atAmazon .
Photo: amazon
Best Digital Test
Luster Leaf 1605 Digital Soil Test Kit
The 2d Luster Leaf outfit in the lineup tests for atomic number 7 , phosphorus , and potassium , but it deal some of the complexness out of testing using color - rally capsules . It also occupy the guesswork out of matching the results with its easy - to - read digital display . Everything is color - twit : N , P , and K correspond with purple , dismal , and orange , severally , while fleeceable is for pH.
We collected a stain sample , fill one of the four trial run tubes , and then added filtered water to the metro . We shook the ground and body of water resolution , inserted a color - write in code capsule in the vial , and shook again . Once the contents were well mixed , we insert the ampoule into the jam at the top of the digital lecturer and pressed the button match to the test .
This was the same mental test as the first Luster Leaf outfit , but it was more drug user - friendly , and the color - coding made everything understandable . The digital reader gave me the result via a lit - up clit . If the dirt had too much of a nutrient , it registered as “ surplus , ” and lower amounts registered as “ sufficient , ” “ fair to middling , ” “ lacking , ” or “ depleted . ”
Photo: amazon
Unfortunately , the digital examiner did not show how low or gamy a food might have been , but we were able to look in the booklet and see optimal NPK levels for different plants , dope , and flowers . The booklet also offer suggestions on how to improve the grease to raise or scurvy specific nutrient grade .
Get the Luster Leaf 1605 dirt test kit atAmazonorEarth Easy .
Best For Crops
Whitetail Institute Laboratory Soil-Test Kit
Hobby Farmer and crop agriculturalist can receive an expert grime analysis with the Whitetail Institute ’s Laboratory soil mental test kit . Growers also receive a customs duty consultation and recommendations for improving their dirt based on the type of craw that will be grown .
For examination , we once again used the same soil gathered from various spots , blended well , and beam the sample to Whitetail . Of the three mail - in land kit we try , Whitetail offered the gamey level of customization . When we sate out the word form , they asked what we plan to grow in the soil . We prefer alfalfa and Whitetail sent specific instructions for amending the territory to make it suitable for develop alfalfa .
The nutrient test upshot were very close to those we obtained from the other lab and Kansas State University , but Whitetail only screen for four nutrients : phosphorus , potassium , atomic number 20 , and magnesium . We called the local telephone extension broker and asked why . He said those are the most critical four nutrients for most farming crops .
Photo: amazon
We could enter the test answer in just one week , and a few days later , a paper transcript arrived via snail chain mail . We found that the Whitetail trial run kit termination would be a boon for granger or hobby Farmer who want to create optimum soil condition for a specific crop .
Get the Whitetail Institute territory test kit atAmazon , Cabela ’s , orWhitetail Institute .
Best Precision pH
Bluelab Soil pH Pen
Our evaluation : Ease of Use3/5 ; Accuracy5/5 ; Value4/5
For commercial - plate growers , hydroponic cultivator , or gardeners who want the ultimate in precision pH testing , consider the Bluelab pH penitentiary that leave extremely accurate loony toons / alkaline resultant role . The pen total with a backlit LCD video display and requires a AAA assault and battery for surgical procedure . It also have two - point calibration for see to it accurate pH readings , but the calibration solvent is not include .
We had to locate 7.0 and 4.01 pH solutions , and we were capable to take over some of both from the local high-pitched school chemistry class , but be cognisant that if you require to use this playpen , you ’ll need to buy some of your own .
Photo: amazon
After calibrating the Bluelab pen , which involve putting it first in one solution and then the other and pushing the standardization button each time , we were able-bodied to prove the pH and the temperature of the soil of our potted plants . We were surprised at the truth of this pen examiner as it measured pH to a tenth of a degree and clearly displayed the number on the light-emitting diode filmdom . The pH was close to what we had get in other tests , but this seemed to be the most accurate of all the tests . The temperature reading was also ready to hand , and it would be full of life for hydroponic grower or commercial growers who needed to maintain a specific produce temperature .
Get the Bluelab stain trial pen atAmazonorBluelab .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Soil Test Kits
Misti Mathis , carbon monoxide - possessor ofHarvest Gold Organics , which sells plant upkeep products out of McKinney , Texas , offers some advice on how shoppers can decide between kits : “ in the end , the safe choice bet on your specific needs and budget . While nursing home trial kits wo n’t be as precise as professional labs , they ’re a good choice for many gardener . ” She adds that “ a professional lab test might be a better choice if you ’re facing hard industrial plant growth issue or have unique soil characteristic . ”
To avail ascertain the effectiveness of individual research laboratory tests , we also place a ground sample to the agricultural department at Kansas State University , where they do high - end grunge and plant examination . The results from Kansas State were used as a start point for comparing the other research laboratory tests and the at - home chemical testing kits .
We awarded point for each kit or product , and at the death of examination , we added the points and used them to help watch the good uses and specific accolade for each of the kits that earn a spot in this lineup .
What to Consider When Choosing a Soil Test Kit
Many gardeners and home landscapers buy fertiliser andsoil amendmentproducts that promise to produce robust plant growth , improve soil social system , or result in abundant blooms . Still , unless the products provide what the soil lacks , the results may not be what the gardener expect . In some cases — such as tot up fertilizer tonutrient - dense soil — plant may even ache from fertilizer burn mark . territory testing assume the guesswork out of horticulture and landscaping , and that ’s why I tested the top stain trial products on the grocery today .
Soil
Soil quality deviate from location to location . The dirt in some regions might be perfect for growing vegetables and peak , while the soil someplace else must be hard rectify with organic matter to grow anything . The watch over four common type of filth have different properties :
Test Types
Several dirt - testing Cartesian product are uncommitted to find out the amounts of various nutrients and macronutrients in the soil . Among the most comprehensive tests are those that involve exact grime samples and sending them to a laboratory for depth psychology . Still , at - home kits and instrument like these can be of aid .
Testing
Testing kit and instruments commonly help pinpoint soil characteristics . have it away the makeup of the territory helps you substantially keep your garden . Keep in mind that various plant have specific nutrient requirements , so it ’s essential to research the plant that will be grown before bring nutrients .
Accuracy
grunge test outfit vary in truth , with professional lab tests ranking as the most exact . The calibre and composition of the stain may also vary from one closing of the garden to the other based on the amount of spark that a specific spot gets , whether leaves fall and moulder in one spot , or what types of works were grown there in the past . For instance , plants in the legume family , such as soybeans or clover , can add together nitrogen to the soil .
choose the most accurate test or quizzer can prove challenging , but look for features such as gravid , easy - to - read caliber on analog testers and probes that are solidly sequester . Chemical kits should offer multiple testing unconscious process for double - checking results , and pH tryout strip will be most exact before their expiry appointment . No matter the individual psychometric test outfit , gardener can helpavoid mistakesby performing multiple trial run in different spots .
Speed of Results
The quick result come from exam that determine pH and moisture . At - home test kits and instruments can watch these two factors in mere seconds . Testing for other nutrient may take longer , specially if the soil has to be combined with urine and then provide to settle before perform a chemical substance trial . Light and moisture metre can often determine results in a few minutes . Retesting can be done as often as desired to get an estimation of light quality during unlike times of the day and to see whether wet vaporise more quickly from grime during higher outdoor temps .
The farsighted waiting point comes when assay professional lab results . The gardener must gather the soil sample distribution , place them in a software system , and send the package to the laboratory . depend on the focal ratio of the research lab , it may take a few days to test the sample and then a few extra days to get the results . Some labs can send results by email , which speed up up the process by a dyad of day .
Ease of Use
run kit that sport pH strips and meters with probe are simple to use and self - explanatory for the most part , but the best dirt mental testing kits derive with directions on how to wield the comic strip and the probe , in addition to offering selective information for understand the relevance of the test results . Chemical trial kits can be more complex , but they come with instructions on accumulate soil samples , mingle them , and select the chemical to use when deport specific nutrient test . Chemical kit often do with charts that explain what the different results mean , such as various color changes that occur when testing for exceptional macronutrients and micronutrients .
FAQs
The best soil trial kit can help a nurseryman figure out the most good fertilizers or amendment to lend to a garden . Below are answer to some common questions about soil examination kits .
If plants are thriving , there ’s no need to test the dirt . However , if plants seem to droop , pall , or just do poorly , testing the stain could help determine if the problem is due to a social organization or alimental deficiency in the soil .
Absolutely . Many DIY - type soil testers are available for test everything from wet and pH to the amount and type of nutrients in the dirt . Some call for send the grime sampling to a professional laboratory — these can yield the most precise results .
Digital dirt tester are usually jolly accurate . Gardeners can increase accuracy by performing multiple tests in unlike spots of the garden and comparing the resultant .
There are several filth testing methods . Soil test kit you may bribe for at - home enjoyment feature pH comic strip , analog or digital measure , and chemical testing . They will admit focussing for the testing method acting . Professional testing is usable by sending soil samples to a science lab — you mail in a soil sample and they ’ll provide results within a few Day or weeks .
A pH test measures the acidity and alkalinity levels of the soil . The sour of the soil can feign plant life wellness , including how well it absorbs nutrients , so aim for the ideal pH level for your plant types is one important pace toward a thriving garden .
territory treatments are uncommitted that will either parent or lower the soil ’s pH horizontal surface , count on what the nurseryman is get . These are often called pH - UP and pH - DOWN products . you could also employ amendments like garden lime and ivory meal ( which increase soil pH ) and peat moss or sulfur ( which lower dirt pH ) to naturally conform pH point in your garden .
kit with pH strips may expire in a few months , especially if they ’re not kept in an airtight container . Meters and admonisher will not expire . However , if they ’re battery operated , they will require fresh barrage when the old ones run down . Chemical kit are often good for 2 to 5 years .
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a product examiner and writer specializing in the construction , remodeling , and real acres industries . She and her husband own a general contracting company , and Taylor is experienced in both residential and commercial building app . She tests a wide range of might tools as well as other home improvement , home , and lawn - and - garden intersection .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you set up up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - background secret plan out back — and select the correct plants for your soil and region .
