In becoming a good gardener, you will need to learn as much as you can about your soil. This means knowing what plants will or will not thrive, what nutrients are plentiful or are depleted, how to fertilize and even what the pH level is. Interestingly, because the business of pH sounds complicated, almost too "scientific" to the average gardener, it is often ignored. But unknown to most gardeners, the acidic or alkalinity of your soil is one of the core "must-knows" of gardening.

When you talk pH levels, you are referring to the measurement of acidity or alkalinity in a solution or, in our case, the soil. You want to know, is my soil acidic or alkaline?

The reason that the pH level or degree of acidity is important and should be measured in garden soil is because it directly impacts the ability of nutrients to dissolve in the soil and in turn be absorbed by plants. Without a proper pH level, some plants wither, become sick, or simply do not reach their full potential. Many never reach maturity because they are unable to get the nutrients that they need.

Some types of plants need a more acidic environment in which to grow than others. These include vegetables such as corn, potatoes, beans, okra, lettuce, onions, squash and peppers. Watermelons and cantaloupes, by contrast, need alkalinity to grow.

In the blossom world it is lilacs, sunflowers, some types of roses, and hydrangeas that do better with an acidic soil. Perennials such as daffodils and tulips also need an acidic environment, as do herbs, parsley, and garlic.

You're probably wondering, so how do I tell if my soil is leaning towards being of an alkaline or acidic composition? Good question. The best thing to do is to use a home acid testing kit which will give you a good idea of what the pH level in your garden might be. Remember, there are multiple factors that can affect the pH level of soil, including animal and bird droppings, previous chemical fertilizer use ,and chemicals in the water table. It even matters as to what kind of plants have been growing in your garden previously, as well as what's in the surrounding soil.

If you are interested in testing your soil, you can get these tests free at a county or agricultural office. You can also buy them online or in gardening supply stores.
Most test kits will even recommend which fertilizers should be applied to neutralize or counteract your soil's deficiencies.

Be careful though, the test results often times will recommend using a chemical fertilizer. Ignore the propaganda and always use an all-natural fertilizer, rich in nutrients, for both your soil and plants.