2. The Drainage Test
Dig a hole 12 inches
deep and wide and put
the soil on a piece of
cardboard (for the worm
test). Fill the hole with
water and let it drain out.
Fill it again and measure
how much water drains
out in one hour. One
inch is slow drainage,
two to three inches is
ideal, and more than
that indicates sandy soil.
3. The Worm Test
While the water in your
hole is draining, sift
through the soil from the
hole with your hands. If
you can't find at least 10
earthworms, your soil is
likely low on nutrients.
Ideas
Compacted soil is so hard that you can't grab a handful, and
is often caused by heavy machinery and trucks used during
construction. Moisten a patch and try breaking it up with a
spade. Consider a rototiller the option of last resort, because it
can damage existing roots and soil biology.
4. The pH Level Test
Buy a pH test kit, fill
the tube or container
with soil and follow the
instructions to measure
the acidity of your soil
on a scale of zero (very
acidic) to fourteen (very
alkaline). Most plants
need a pH of five to eight
to absorb the nutrients
in the soil.
$8-$60 at a nursery or
garden supply store.
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