I'm trying to decide if I should buy a PH meter. I've found two types. The first sells for $24.99 and also indicates minerals and nutrients in the soil in addition to PH levels. The second is much cheaper, $13.99, and consists of a wire connected to a probe which is placed in the soil. It only indicates PH level. Do they work and is it possible to determine the nutrients and PH simply my placing a probe in the soil? Sounds too good to be true.
Generally if it sounds too good to be true it is and these are not consistently accurate enough to be worth the expense. A soil test, done by a lab, every 5 or 10 years is more than enough since what these test for and find are readily available nutrients and through extrapolation what "may" need to be done to increase the levels can be recommended. Since it takes time for the soil bacteria to make the nutrients you add available to your plants testing for the available levels of nutrients is really a waste of time. Watch plant growth and learn what the plants appearance indicates to determine what may need to be added. But mostly as long as enough compost and other forms of organic matter are added to the soil the nutrient levels should be adequate.
Agree with Kimm on the lab test. Extension agencies will do pH for about $5.00. My opinion: establishing and adjusting (if necessary) pH is most important element in the soil. It's the biggest determinator of how well (or even IF) a plant will absorb soil nutrients and utilize them properly.
That said, many plants have different pH requirements. Not a good idea to plant acid-loving plants in soil that's perfect for more alkaline-proned plants.
In the past, I've used the Extension Services for complete soil analysis and just for pH. Last 7 or 8 years, cause we've been luckier to have enough compost to add to the beds, I'm not as worried about other elements. Again, as Kimm said, then it's just a matter of observation as to how each plant is performing and determining what it might be lacking or getting too much of. But, because much of our compost consists of decomposed oak leaves, I'm always concerned about the pH. (Even though, I know that decomposition of normally acidic oak leaves, results in neutralizing them).
For just the pH, though, I'd recommend those little test kits you can get in the store, where you add soil samples to some water in a little plastic container and drop in some kind of tab. Then wait to see what color it turns. It's not always 100% accurate, but generally, it's close enough.
gardenz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices. To be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill, and suspicion can destroy, and the frightened, thoughtless search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of its own: for the children, and the children yet unborn." Blogs: OurGardenEarth GardenzOwn
Posts: 2509 | Location: Linda in N.J./Zones 7 & "Twilight" | Registered: February 11, 2002
