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- Q.Testing Soil - How does one go about testing the soil?
- Q.Nutrients In The Soil - Recently I purchased a soil testing kit. In it one can test pH, nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. However, the accompanying ...
- Q.Change Soil Medium - When do I change the soil of my plants?
- Q.Soil Test - Garden soil test results: high pH, low nitrogen, low phosphorous, high potash. How do I repair?
- Q.How Much Topsoil Should I Add? - My garden is approx. 25 ft. x 20 ft. How much topsoil should I add?
- Q.PH Levels - How do you check pH levels and what do you do if they are off?
- Q.Vegetable Garden Soil Fertilization - I just tested the soil in what will be my vegetable garden. The pH is high, the nitrogen level is ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
April 7, 2011Q.Testing Soil
How does one go about testing the soil?
Answered by
Nikki on
April 8, 2011
Certified ExpertA.You can either buy a soil testing kit at a plant nursery or you can take a soil sample to your local extension service to be tested, either for free or a small fee. All states have an extension service and they are normally associated with a college near you.
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- Asked by
beetalker on
April 20, 2011Q.Nutrients in the soil
Recently I purchased a soil testing kit. In it one can test pH, nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. However, the accompanying manual only tells what pH is needed for specific plants. It does not tell you what the content of the others should be in the soil. Only that it can range from Very High to Very Low. How can I know what the nitrogen, potassium and phosphate levels should be for my crops?
- Answered by
Heather on
April 20, 2011
Certified ExpertA.It doesn't say because it can vary greatly depending on age and variety of plants you are growing. For that style of soil test kit, you are looking for a rating of medium (or equivalent) to low-high in any of these nutrients.
Rule of thumb is that for flowering and fruiting and young plants, you want a slightly higher phosphorous as this helps with flowering and root development. For foliage plants, a somewhat higher nitrogen is good as nitrogen grow leaves. For established plants, a balanced makeup is needed.
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Anonymous on
April 22, 2011Q.Change Soil Medium
When do I change the soil of my plants?
- Answered by
Nikki on
April 22, 2011
Certified ExpertA.With houseplants, it is best to fully change soil when repotting only. Other than that, once a year you can remove the top 1-2 inches of soil and replace that only.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
April 24, 2011Q.Soil Test
Garden soil test results: high pH, low nitrogen, low phosphorous, high potash. How do I repair?
- Answered by
Nikki on
April 25, 2011
Certified ExpertA.These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/raise-acid-level-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/lower-acid-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/nitrogen-plant-fertilizer.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
kriss1887 on
April 25, 2011Q.How much topsoil should I add?
My garden is approx. 25 ft. x 20 ft. How much topsoil should I add?
- Answered by
Heather on
April 27, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Typically, you want to spread it about 2-3" deep across the area that you are looking to amend.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
April 27, 2011Q.pH Levels
How do you check pH levels and what do you do if they are off?
- Answered by
Nikki on
April 28, 2011
Certified ExpertA.To check pH, you need to do a soil test. You can either have one done at your local extension service or you can buy a test at a local plant nursery.
These articles will help you with correcting your pH, should it be off:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/raise-acid-level-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/lower-acid-soil.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
April 30, 2011Q.Vegetable Garden Soil Fertilization
I just tested the soil in what will be my vegetable garden. The pH is high, the nitrogen level is very low, the phosphorus is high and the potash is low. Can you recommend the best way to adjust these levels in time for spring planting?
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 2, 2011
Certified ExpertA.These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/lower-acid-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/nitrogen-plant-fertilizer.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/plants-potassium.htmNormally when you correct low nitrogen, this will correct the high phosphorus.
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