pH Soil TesterWhile large-scale growers routinely test for pH, this easy and inexpensive step is also a must for everyone with lawns, shrubs, garden space, or indoor potted plants. If your soil does not have the proper pH level, your plants will not thrive and stay healthy. An improper pH level will keep all the nutrition – including extra fertilizer or soil amendments – locked in the soil and unavailable for your plants. Improper pH will also allow fungal and other diseases to attack plants and will inhibit fungicides and pesticides (even organic ones!) from working. But perhaps the worst thing of all is that rather than your chosen plants, your naughty uninvited guests with thrive best of all. That’s right–weeds LOVE soils with improper pH! They’re even considered an “indicator” that something’s amiss.
So many things affect pH – precipitation (snow, rain, and watering); pets; septic tanks; thatch (not removing grass clippings); and added soil care products (including organic fertilizers, mulch, or other amendments). If your soil pH moves as little as .5 on the scale, it is time to help your plants before they show signs of distress. And it will help get rid of weeds!
Testing for pH should be done twice a year for outdoor areas and every other month for indoor potted plants. The Rapitest kit only takes a few minutes to get results, and includes 10 test capsules so you can test several areas. It is recommended that you test once for every 1000 square feet of area outdoors. Testing should be done in the fall for spring planting, and in the spring for fall planting. Stop adding expensive nutrients your plants can’t use! The Rapitest pH kit includes everything you need except your soil! Detailed instructions tell you how to fertilize/adjust the pH of your soil. Your plants will thrive! Replacement “pills” are available.
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