My yard came in at 4.2 and I've put down my first lime treatment. I guess I'm lucky to have any grass in my turf! I had my soil tested through the extension office, but it was $10. I am definitely going to invest in my own meter. I also tested my garden which came in at 5.7 so that explains why I'm having so much difficulty growing anything there. I've decided to turn that raised bed into a flower bed of native plants to attract birds and insects. We went over the steps to successful raised beds in my vegetable gardening class today, and it's way more maintenance and expense than I'm willing to do. I can buy food at the Farmer's Market for way less. But I am determined to fix up my turf and have a pretty lawn. Loving your channel! I'm in SE Virginia and it's all grey mucky clay here. I do everything in pots and, which is so time intensive. I enjoy it, but when it becomes a chore, it's not fun anymore. So, I'm looking for some ways to simplify but still have something pretty to look at when I sit on the patio. And birds love the yard, so anything I can do to make them even happier is ok with me!
Thanks, Jim! Do you recommend that exact tool? I am in Georiga and our dirt looks just like yours. I am about to grade and was wondering if you have suggestions for grading to have a nice yard.
Thanks for sharing, Jim. Unless I missed something you didn't let us know the best place to buy a soil tester. Also, the first link you show is broken (error 404). I need to do this.
Leah Allen Wherever you can Buy them cheapest ,I would not buy the cheapest, I’ve bought them on eBay but any store with a garden center will have them read howto use or watch on RUclips how to is important !
can't find the right link to check out the soil meter !!can't find the right link to check out the soil meter !! Kelway -HB-2 is the right brand ? R-tek RT/SDT-60 maybe ? Kengsiren 2 in 1 soil tester ? GHOESC ? I think that the model is the Ghoesc so I did order one, if you have any advice feel free to let me know. thanks in advance
I just discovered your channel. I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Where are you making your videos? So far I really like the feel of your videos.
I would plug arerate the turf and hit it with lime and gypsum seeing threat you have clay. I am a leaf hoarder in fall and usually have 3 to 4 active compost piles. I would pick a bed a year and till in compost and pull off mulch and top dress with compost around plants.
Thanks for the video.I just ordered me one of these probes. My soil looks just like yours.I am sure my PH will be similar to yours.I live in north georgia
Thanks for the info man! Now being who I am I have to ask lol, did you cross contaminate your samples by putting the one screwdriver in all the cups without cleaning the previous soil off of it?
Can add more distill water into the cup of soil and use a digital ph meter to check my soil PH? Would this give the same measurement as using the Ph meter you are using?
I had no idea ph level was so important. I am planning on planting raspberries, and blueberries in the spring this was very helpful. The area they will be planted is all grass now, but I plan on taking the grass out to plant there. Is it recommended to till the whole area I am planting in or is shoveling it out not going to cut it?
OK I have questions. I am just getting into the soil reading game and there is something that I am seeing in every single info share that doesnt make sense to me in the big picture. the water. everyone keeps saying that we should use distilled water to test the soil... to this i have to ask why. I understand that you want to get a TRUE reading if you are testing just the soil so that you know where your soil stands. BUT !!! in determining what you would want to be adding or neutralizing, wouldnt you want to test with the water that you USE to get a real reading on what your soil lives with? maybe there is more salt in the water that comes out of your tap, or more clorine, or more something.... so while growing grass for example, test your soil to get a reading straight out of the ground, but then the reading you got is inaccurate the moment you water your lawn and there is a ton of floride in the water, that just through off the entire process.... again i am just learning all of this so it may be a stupid question, it just makes sense to me to test the soil with the same water you are putting on it.
@@JimPutnam Too big which is why it'd be reassuring to buy the very one that you use and trust. Lots of people here in the comment section trying to figure out the brand of your ph tester even years later......Thanks very much for the videos!
+LindyTN I mostly use timely mulching. It is something I am going to talk about in February. I know when the main weed cycles are so I mulch right before to cut off there sunlight.
That would be great. I struggle with grass and weeds growing in a mulched area. I usually resort to round up. But do not like using that. When we first moved here, there was a few shrubs scattered about with landscape fabric under the mulch. I hate landscape fabric, because when you want to plant something else, you cannot get through the fabric. It is a total frustrating struggle. And the dirt underneath is terrible. just compacted clay stuff. Like none of the decomposed mulch can get to the dirt underneath. I have removed a lot of it, and the pup, now young dog, has removed the most of the offending fabric. lol
thanks for the video, i really thought i needed to go to my extension office to get it done. unfortunately amazon no longer sells the meter so will have to try else where to find it
Never use distilled water- it's actually rather acidic, surprising enough- typically a pH of less than 6. Distilled water would skew your results. Tap water is closer to neutral pH and would be a better option.
Negative. It would only drop under 6 if it was exposed to the air for a while. Literally every manufacturer of ph testers including Hanna instruments say use distilled water.
@@JimPutnam Use distilled water for what exactly? Soil testing? Sorry but that is incorrect. It is only perfectly neutral after distillation and rapidly absorbs CO2 immediately. It will be less than 6 within a couple of hours. Did you test the pH of of distilled water you used?
The mineral content can also affect the reading. It is not just about the pH of the water. And again there has to be a reason why every ph meter manufacturer in the world says to use distilled water.
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Jim, thank you greatly for this explanation! You made it easy. I watched your other video too on why ph is so important. Fabulous explanation 👌
My yard came in at 4.2 and I've put down my first lime treatment. I guess I'm lucky to have any grass in my turf! I had my soil tested through the extension office, but it was $10. I am definitely going to invest in my own meter. I also tested my garden which came in at 5.7 so that explains why I'm having so much difficulty growing anything there. I've decided to turn that raised bed into a flower bed of native plants to attract birds and insects. We went over the steps to successful raised beds in my vegetable gardening class today, and it's way more maintenance and expense than I'm willing to do. I can buy food at the Farmer's Market for way less. But I am determined to fix up my turf and have a pretty lawn. Loving your channel! I'm in SE Virginia and it's all grey mucky clay here. I do everything in pots and, which is so time intensive. I enjoy it, but when it becomes a chore, it's not fun anymore. So, I'm looking for some ways to simplify but still have something pretty to look at when I sit on the patio. And birds love the yard, so anything I can do to make them even happier is ok with me!
+Pattymac Knits Great information. Thanks. Good luck with everything.
Awesome tool! Would be nice to see how the Lime helped. I use Lime here in CT every year. Even rain lowers the PH
Lots of good info about soil PH...in a concise 7-8 minute time frame.
It's amazing the correlation between the pH levels in soil and vegetables growth, are very similar to human health.
thank you for this video, very informative. Now I'm motivated to buy the PH Level tester and take samples of my soil.
Thank you!! The data you have given will help us tremendously! Thanks again!!
Great video, I liked the PH tester, haven't seem one like that. Where could I get one like yours? tks
Looking forward to the updates. Thanks so much for posting these vids.
Thanks, Jim! Do you recommend that exact tool? I am in Georiga and our dirt looks just like yours. I am about to grade and was wondering if you have suggestions for grading to have a nice yard.
Thank you so much for showing me how to test my soil. Much appreciated.
Thanks for watching. Good luck with everything.
Thanks very clear. Look forward to next video.
What kind of pH meter are you using? I tried the links provided, but they are not correct. Thank you for the instructions today.
Thanks for sharing, Jim. Unless I missed something you didn't let us know the best place to buy a soil tester. Also, the first link you show is broken (error 404). I need to do this.
Leah Allen Wherever you can Buy them cheapest ,I would not buy the cheapest, I’ve bought them on eBay but any store with a garden center will have them read howto use or watch on RUclips how to is important !
Thanks for sharing knowledge, sir.
can't find the right link to check out the soil meter !!can't find the right link to check out the soil meter !! Kelway -HB-2 is the right brand ? R-tek RT/SDT-60 maybe ? Kengsiren 2 in 1 soil tester ? GHOESC ? I think that the model is the Ghoesc so I did order one, if you have any advice feel free to let me know. thanks in advance
I did not know they had that type of soil tester I learned something new today thanks
+Barb zmuda Thanks for watching
Thank you for sharing.
Great video thanks!
The link to the kit is bad, sure would like to have the correct link. Thanks for all you do.
Jim, very good video, the link to the tool you used is not working can you please post it so I can buy the same one. Thanks
Thank you for the info. It was very helpful.
Glad to help
Thank you for this good tip
I just discovered your channel. I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Where are you making your videos? So far I really like the feel of your videos.
This is an amazing state...but it has gardening issues I struggle with.....clay....clay....clay
I would plug arerate the turf and hit it with lime and gypsum seeing threat you have clay. I am a leaf hoarder in fall and usually have 3 to 4 active compost piles. I would pick a bed a year and till in compost and pull off mulch and top dress with compost around plants.
Great video brother but I can’t find the ph meter link!🙏
Concise easy to follow and do Thxs!
Thanks for the video.I just ordered me one of these probes. My soil looks just like yours.I am sure my PH will be similar to yours.I live in north georgia
Enjoyed the Vid.. However your links are dead.. Do you have info on the meter or is it not being produced anymore? Appreciate any help..
Good
This was great l enjoyed it 👏🏻
The lume commercial was pretty dope..
Do you have the video of you spreading lime on your lawn?
good video. I have a pH of 8.4 on average. Sucks bc it's not easy to fix
Thanks for the info man! Now being who I am I have to ask lol, did you cross contaminate your samples by putting the one screwdriver in all the cups without cleaning the previous soil off of it?
Can add more distill water into the cup of soil and use a digital ph meter to check my soil PH? Would this give the same measurement as using the Ph meter you are using?
How about Rain water instead of distilled I believe rain should be used???
Acid rain will affect reading
Will I do any damage adding lime to a lawn that may not need any?
6atlantis yes if your ph needs to go down instead of up
I had no idea ph level was so important. I am planning on planting raspberries, and blueberries in the spring this was very helpful. The area they will be planted is all grass now, but I plan on taking the grass out to plant there. Is it recommended to till the whole area I am planting in or is shoveling it out not going to cut it?
+3dBoard Gamer Shoveling would be fine as long as you actually kill the grass in the process.
Dear
Can I adjust soil pH with diluted sulphuric acid to down it
what is the name of the testing probe your using thanks
OK I have questions. I am just getting into the soil reading game and there is something that I am seeing in every single info share that doesnt make sense to me in the big picture.
the water.
everyone keeps saying that we should use distilled water to test the soil... to this i have to ask why. I understand that you want to get a TRUE reading if you are testing just the soil so that you know where your soil stands. BUT !!! in determining what you would want to be adding or neutralizing, wouldnt you want to test with the water that you USE to get a real reading on what your soil lives with? maybe there is more salt in the water that comes out of your tap, or more clorine, or more something.... so while growing grass for example, test your soil to get a reading straight out of the ground, but then the reading you got is inaccurate the moment you water your lawn and there is a ton of floride in the water, that just through off the entire process....
again i am just learning all of this so it may be a stupid question, it just makes sense to me to test the soil with the same water you are putting on it.
Thank you!
+miller4hats Thank you
can you adjust your water ph to account for the soil ph? say my soil is 5.0ph, can you water using higher ph?
Thank you very much
First link to kit says not found.
Hey Jim, I just got my probe.What is the white button for?Mine didnt come with intructions. Thanks in advance
Usually it for measuring moisture, if it is the same one I have.
Where did you buy the ph tester?
Thanks
Amazon has big selection of them. I have them linked below the videos
@@JimPutnam Too big which is why it'd be reassuring to buy the very one that you use and trust. Lots of people here in the comment section trying to figure out the brand of your ph tester even years later......Thanks very much for the videos!
Were can we buy ph meter?
How do you keep grass and weeds from growing in your mulched area? And where do I get a soil tester like yours?
+LindyTN I mostly use timely mulching. It is something I am going to talk about in February. I know when the main weed cycles are so I mulch right before to cut off there sunlight.
That would be great. I struggle with grass and weeds growing in a mulched area. I usually resort to round up. But do not like using that. When we first moved here, there was a few shrubs scattered about with landscape fabric under the mulch. I hate landscape fabric, because when you want to plant something else, you cannot get through the fabric. It is a total frustrating struggle. And the dirt underneath is terrible. just compacted clay stuff. Like none of the decomposed mulch can get to the dirt underneath. I have removed a lot of it, and the pup, now young dog, has removed the most of the offending fabric. lol
jim you didnt post the link for the tester u have....i have tried the one in your link...
I did and then amazon dropped it. I look every week for the one I have. They have one similar, but it is very expensive.
It's highly unlikely that the distilled water had a pH below 7. It's far more likely that the meter is a little out of calibration.
Distilled water is slightly acidic. Typically less than pH of 6.
Can no longer buy the pH meter you used. Can you recommend another?
Thanks for letting me know. I will update it tomorrow.
could you just put the meter into the ground? if the ground was somewhat moist?
+gibbyair1 rocks can damage the meter. So be careful with that. If you do it that way check it in several spots.
thanks for the video, i really thought i needed to go to my extension office to get it done. unfortunately amazon no longer sells the meter so will have to try else where to find it
+gibbyair1 If you use the link at the bottom that says products I use, there is another one I have linked to.
Thx for info how often we have to test our soil?
+Molly Salout Once a year would work. Apply lime in the fall if you need it.
Use a Pro Plugger
Never use distilled water- it's actually rather acidic, surprising enough- typically a pH of less than 6. Distilled water would skew your results. Tap water is closer to neutral pH and would be a better option.
Negative. It would only drop under 6 if it was exposed to the air for a while. Literally every manufacturer of ph testers including Hanna instruments say use distilled water.
@@JimPutnam Use distilled water for what exactly? Soil testing? Sorry but that is incorrect. It is only perfectly neutral after distillation and rapidly absorbs CO2 immediately. It will be less than 6 within a couple of hours. Did you test the pH of of distilled water you used?
The mineral content can also affect the reading. It is not just about the pH of the water. And again there has to be a reason why every ph meter manufacturer in the world says to use distilled water.
Which ph probe is this plz?
Lord have mercy... do you live in Alabama??? So much clay 😞
Looks like hard soil to grow grass
20 years I’d say so
Great video, thanks