When you test the pH of your garden soil, the results will indicate whether the soil is more acidic or alkaline (pH indicators). Many gardeners follow general advice and end up confused as to why their garden doesn't end up like the magazine picture. The problem is that general advice is often only a starting point. In vegetable gardens, the plants will generally thrive on a pH level of 7, which is only slightly acidic and more toward the neutral range.

There are numerous garden pH test kits which are available for the do it yourself er, but. A garden pH test gives you a quick and pretty accurate idea as to how your garden is different, and what you might need to do about that difference. It is not one size fits all in the garden. Sometimes you need to do a little more investigation to get the best results. Two exceptions are potatoes and strawberries; they grow best in a lower pH soil.

So it is of benefit to gardeners to not only understand the soil, but also a little about the plants that you want to grow in it.