"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." If you want your plants to grow big and healthy, soil quality matters. Even if you aren’t planning on ...

Testing garden soil is the best way to determine what it needs—if anything—and how much. A variety of soil testing kits are available, but how reliable are they? Home gardeners rely on these kits when ...

Discover why you should test your soil in January, with insights from a garden expert. Get ahead of the growing season by ...

When it comes to your plants, you can't cheat. If you cut a corner, the results are gonna be felt in your garden: stressed plants that are susceptible to disease, produce less fruit, and fruit that ...

Peter Richards tests the reliability of do-it-yourself home soil test kits. This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, local gardener Peter Richards demonstrates how to use different ...

Ready to plant? Don't forget to test your soil pH. Before planting your garden don't forget to test your soil pH level to learn how acidic or basic it is. This could be a deciding factor in whether ...

Is soil testing important? How can I get my soil tested? The first question is do you need a soil test? There are several situations where a soil test may be appropriate: 1. Landscaping a new home ...

Penn State Master Gardeners in Lancaster County field many questions each year about the pH recommendations on residents’ soil test results. You will likely not even know anything about the pH of your ...

Spring is just around the corner, and enthusiastic gardeners are already plotting to get their gardens in shape for the growing season. From soil to sunshine, it all takes planning. Whether you’re new ...

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 ...