I am in Southern Vermont. I just purchased the Rapid Test manual kit, realized from your video it doesn't test Iron, which I am told I might be low on since I am getting moss and slime mold(I think). I am now thinking about the Soil Savy test. Your video was very thorough and complete. I am very impressed by it.
I tried those test tube drug kits in the past, it was always 7 ph, no N, high P, and depleted K. I don't think accuracy is a factor with that type of product. I just sent my soil off through the county extension office and the results are back. I was impressed with the comprehensive results on your report.
In chemistry with those tests discrepancies we would re test. Personally I would redo the manual tests because it's cheaper and compare again to the lab report. This was exactly the video I was looking for tho! Thank you for helping me make a decision on which to do!
My personal preference would be with the manual test. The soil savvy might be more accurate, but I need to make several tests. One for each garden in different locations that have been growing different crops. Plus after I apply some nutrients, I'd like to take another test to see what kind of difference it made. That'd be a lot of money sent to soil savvy and a lot of waiting.
Pat Traynor I agree. But I think the best way to go would be to do it like he did in the video and use all three. That does cost more though.... I think I’d go with the digital because it seems the easiest way with the quickest results. Oh yeah and I like that you can do multiple tests too.
Thanks for testing these, this is helpful. I'm ordering the manual Rapid Test today so If you are still giving some away, the Soil Savvy mail-in kit. BTW, I had to chuckle... I'm wearing my brown "Dad" t-shirt right now, a gift from our kids that call me the "Handy Dad/Opa". Cheers from Texas!
I moved into this house in November 2017. 10 foot clover patches, wild violets, and nutsedge everywhere. Then the grubs took out half the lawn. 12,000 square feet. I used a drag rake/tiller to pull up 16 bags of dead grass. Put down 35 lbs. of tall fescue and watered 4 times a day for 3 weeks. I now use Barricade for crabgrass. Then starter fertilizer (Lesco) for the spring application, might switch to something else after seeing the spring test. I spot treat weeds with T-zone because it treats all weeds including violet. I use Ornamec for grassy weeds. I have some Bermuda in my lawn. I don’t blanket spray the lawn and most fertilizer is organic. Also started using the N-ext bio stimulant pack to loosen the soil and improve drought survival. Btw, low ph favors clover growth, so I’ve heard. Itching to get going! Btw, not to brag, but for most of the year, I had hardly any weeds in my lawn. Wish my dad was alive to see that!
I enjoy your show. I’ve learned many things and if you’re still giving out one of the soil testers, I’ll take the one with the battery. Keep up the good work.
I tried the manual kit. I'm waiting for the results to appear. My water is very cloudy. Your video was great. I appreciate the details you included. Looking for more of your videos.
Great video. I think I like the digital test kit best for immediate results buy the savvy is definitely more informative. I think the reason for your discrepancy might have been due to the mixture of soil from different parts of the yard where as you used a scoop of the test subject for the savvy and a small amount for the manual and and then you mixed a larger quantity which was thoroughly mixed in the water for the digital so it may be possible that you were testing different soil types in each test. I could be wrong but just a theory. Either way I loved the video.
Great video comparing all the popular options. I like the soil savvy test since it gives you the micro nutrients, parts per million, and fertilizer recommendations.
Thank you H.D.! We both used the Rapitest soil test at home.I was doing my test at the same time you was doing yours and your results help me base what my results were. I thank you. Had a few great laughs as well thanks bud. I choose "Soil Savvy"! Thank You 😊
I would love the instant feedback from the manual and digital tests, but I think the soil savvy is a little more accurate. Soil savvy is the way to go :)
8/6/18 update - Congratulations to our first winner! Michael Alishayev will receive a free Soil Savvy test kit. NEXT WINNER TO BE DRAWN AFTER 200 COMMENTS!!
Hmm. I actually bought the digital one, before I watched this video and I am glad I did. I feel more confident to use it now. I love your yard. That is the reason I am testing my lawn. I don't believe the lawn companies anymore. Thank you for sharing this video
Personally, I think the Digital RapiTest was the best. It seemed the easiest to complete. Although, I feel that the Soil Savy was probably the most reliable as it comes from a test lab. Great video, very interesting!
I vote the Manual test for its nearly instant resaults and ability for multiple tests .. i also thought the k on the manual was low not normal which would match the mail in sample .. but opinion about the color could be a con of the manual tests
I use Soil Savvy. My results are typically a little lower than I’d like but I’ve heard that is common with their test. Would be interesting to see your results compared to you local Extension office.
Like the rapitest soil tester the best because : get results immediately, basically accurate, easy to use, clear direction, can share extra test kits with others, great utube presentation. Thank you. Dianne
Hey my name is Matheus I'm from Brazil and work with diagnosis tests for different diseases. Never heard about this type of test and is so interesting that I wanna test my soil right now! I liked both, but I think the digital is more interesting for using light analisis to determine it semi quantitative with a machine to measure and not just use your own eyes.
Great job dad! I love that you took the time to show us three different tests. I will get the digital one & send one to a professional test lab like you did. I think I’d trust the sample sent to lab a bit more than the other tests though it’s good to have one on hand! ***Oh & if you’re still doing a giveaway... I’d love to enter to win the digital sample kit! 😆 😊. Thank you!!!!
Love the milo smell from straight from tge bag,but not after a good rain storm..really smells bad....also was looking on which test to do..soil savvy is great for your other values of micros & macros ,but after watching your video. .the other less expenive testers work pretty well..Great info,keep the great video's coming 😎
I like the precision of Soil Savvy. Not that you need such an exact number for every nutrient. You really just need to know when something is very high (don’t add more) or very low (add more).
I agree with Pat Traynor. But I think the best way to go would be to do it like you did in the video and use all three. That does cost more though.... I think I’d go with the digital because it seems the easiest way with the quickest results.
Yeah the only thing that bothered me was the three tests giving me three different readings. But the majority of poll responses said to trust Soil Savvy over the other two. So I decided to “throw ‘er down and hope for the best.”
For the P I don’t think it was adequate because it was gray and the container colors were blue. I’m so confused because there was no gray on the container color. The only color that was close to the gray was the color that had no blue in it, I guess, and that would have been the most button one. Again, this confused me.
Its a crab shoot with test kits. Unless you uniformly apply appropriate nutrients to the whole yard, your gonna have a completely different results each time. I've done 2 separate tests less than 6 feet apart and totally different results. Rainfall and if your yard is on a slope can over time also wash away any applications.
Thank you for this. It's a tremendous help and I have to figure out what's going with my garden beds. It's been dreadful. I would love to get the Soil Savvy test.
The one performed by an actual lab should be the most accurate. Most reviews rate the DIY test as "Flawed." Also, as you closed up the sample for the lab, I could see some organic matter in the sample, perhaps the K results was thrown out of calibration by the beforementioned organic matter? Great video!
Thank you!!!! from Jersey also I add lime a couple times a year.....never tested, pretty much hit or miss. I like the RapiTest if you are still selecting a winner. Looking forward to more help :)
i know im super late on this, but i just bought the manual test kit you have. instructions say to fill both sides of the chambers with your sample. this will counterbalance any color differences from the "murky water"
@@handydadtv "4. Using the dropper provided, fill the test and reference chambers to the fill mark on the chart with solution from your soil sample. Solution is added to the reference chamber to compensate for any discoloration in the tested sample caused by the soil." Yeah so I don't know if it would have made a difference in your tests. It seems the potash test perhaps isn't accurate because I see a bunch of people getting mixed results .
I like the digitalit looks very cool special if you confused with the the reading and don't know exactly what you got at least a digital will tell you what you got for sure thanks for the video
Thanks for your video showing the differences in the three test. I think I would prefer the manual test looks to be the easiest for the quickest results. I have a garden that I would sure like to see what my soil shows here in Eastern Oklahoma!
16:40 maybe use a fine sifter to remove the organic matter. Maybe why you got this result. Vary informative video. Thanks for taking the time so I don't have too. Learning alot here.
Soil savvy. I also bought a professional pH tester that requires a regular 3 point calibration (using 3 different pH buffer solutions), and the results of soil savvy were within 0.1 of that test whereas the manual rapitest was over one point off.
I test my soil with at home tests and lab tests yearly for my vineyard, I have Sandy soil that is about 70% sand, and its basically an ancient sand dune, its Acidic with a Ph of about 6.0 and it has a moderate salt content as well, and is heavy in magnesium but tends to be extremely depleted in nitrogen all the time and is a constant battle to keep any nitrogen in it for grapes, and it also is frequently depleted in copper and boron and I have to add both of those yearly to combat that.
@@handydadtv No Problem, I just get envious of people with reasonably normal soil lol, Vineyards can be a pain cause you want poor quality soil for wine grapes but that opens you up to even more nutrient problems long term.
did you mix the soil before sending it off? cus it will read different numbers since you took it from different areas of your lawn. Also.. why did you even get the soil from different spots.. you should have just gotten it from one area.
Video sounds like is for kids It does fit to me because I have no ideas how to test the soil I’m trying to learn! I like digital cause it’s easy to read the color Thanks for the video
Great work. Soil Savvy is more reliable as its comprehensive and coming from the lab. however the digital rapitest is handy as you get instant results. i am all for the digital rapitest. Will be great to have Digital Rapitest. I am in Ghana - West Africa.
Yard Mastery, Soil Savvy, and My Soil are virtually identical. In fact they use the same lab. I prefer the Yard Mastery brand because it’s a small company owned by The Lawn Care Nut. handydad.tv/ymst
Loved it. I am getting a digital one for dad right now.he loves his crops and he has never thought of this.
Glad it helped!
You can learn alot from you...first time tester here....and with this video I'll know more about my lawn in NJ
Really appreciate the final comparison between all three. Thanks for a very informative video - very helpful.
Thanks 😊
I am in Southern Vermont. I just purchased the Rapid Test manual kit, realized from your video it doesn't test Iron, which I am told I might be low on since I am getting moss and slime mold(I think). I am now thinking about the Soil Savy test. Your video was very thorough and complete. I am very impressed by it.
I tried those test tube drug kits in the past, it was always 7 ph, no N, high P, and depleted K. I don't think accuracy is a factor with that type of product. I just sent my soil off through the county extension office and the results are back. I was impressed with the comprehensive results on your report.
In chemistry with those tests discrepancies we would re test. Personally I would redo the manual tests because it's cheaper and compare again to the lab report. This was exactly the video I was looking for tho! Thank you for helping me make a decision on which to do!
Glad it helped
I like the manual kit of Rapi Test.
My personal preference would be with the manual test. The soil savvy might be more accurate, but I need to make several tests. One for each garden in different locations that have been growing different crops. Plus after I apply some nutrients, I'd like to take another test to see what kind of difference it made. That'd be a lot of money sent to soil savvy and a lot of waiting.
Pat Traynor I agree. But I think the best way to go would be to do it like he did in the video and use all three. That does cost more though.... I think I’d go with the digital because it seems the easiest way with the quickest results. Oh yeah and I like that you can do multiple tests too.
Soil Savvy easiest test by far. Your lawns looking good so far...
Thanks for testing these, this is helpful. I'm ordering the manual Rapid Test today so If you are still giving some away, the Soil Savvy mail-in kit.
BTW, I had to chuckle... I'm wearing my brown "Dad" t-shirt right now, a gift from our kids that call me the "Handy Dad/Opa". Cheers from Texas!
Nice! 👍🏻
Soil Savvy seems to be the standard all serious lawn care nuts use. I think I would definitely test lab results vs. home test kits. Great video!
Soil Savvy seems pretty great! Nice to see all the information about micro-nutrients even if it's a secondary concern.
You have started my lawn journey. I would love the manual kit. Keep the videos coming!
Thanks
I like the send off because it goes to a lab and I think or I would hope that would yield the best results in my opinion.
I moved into this house in November 2017. 10 foot clover patches, wild violets, and nutsedge everywhere. Then the grubs took out half the lawn. 12,000 square feet. I used a drag rake/tiller to pull up 16 bags of dead grass. Put down 35 lbs. of tall fescue and watered 4 times a day for 3 weeks. I now use Barricade for crabgrass. Then starter fertilizer (Lesco) for the spring application, might switch to something else after seeing the spring test. I spot treat weeds with T-zone because it treats all weeds including violet. I use Ornamec for grassy weeds. I have some Bermuda in my lawn. I don’t blanket spray the lawn and most fertilizer is organic. Also started using the N-ext bio stimulant pack to loosen the soil and improve drought survival. Btw, low ph favors clover growth, so I’ve heard. Itching to get going! Btw, not to brag, but for most of the year, I had hardly any weeds in my lawn. Wish my dad was alive to see that!
It’s hard work but very rewarding to have a nice lawn. 👍🏻
I enjoy your show. I’ve learned many things and if you’re still giving out one of the soil testers, I’ll take the one with the battery. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much 😊
I tried the manual kit. I'm waiting for the results to appear. My water is very cloudy. Your video was great. I appreciate the details you included. Looking for more of your videos.
Thanks 😊
Great video. I think I like the digital test kit best for immediate results buy the savvy is definitely more informative. I think the reason for your discrepancy might have been due to the mixture of soil from different parts of the yard where as you used a scoop of the test subject for the savvy and a small amount for the manual and and then you mixed a larger quantity which was thoroughly mixed in the water for the digital so it may be possible that you were testing different soil types in each test. I could be wrong but just a theory. Either way I loved the video.
I'm not certain that your giveaway stretches as far as the UK, but if it does then the soil savvy is the way to go
Yaaaa
Great video comparing all the popular options. I like the soil savvy test since it gives you the micro nutrients, parts per million, and fertilizer recommendations.
I love the instant feedback from the manual and digital tests,but I feel like the soil savvy is a little more accurate.
Thank you H.D.! We both used the Rapitest soil test at home.I was doing my test at the same time you was doing yours and your results help me base what my results were. I thank you. Had a few great laughs as well thanks bud.
I choose "Soil Savvy"! Thank You 😊
Soil Savvy seems to be the most comprehensive. I live in NJ, too!
I would love the instant feedback from the manual and digital tests, but I think the soil savvy is a little more accurate. Soil savvy is the way to go :)
8/6/18 update - Congratulations to our first winner! Michael Alishayev will receive a free Soil Savvy test kit.
NEXT WINNER TO BE DRAWN AFTER 200 COMMENTS!!
Hmm. I actually bought the digital one, before I watched this video and I am glad I did. I feel more confident to use it now. I love your yard. That is the reason I am testing my lawn. I don't believe the lawn companies anymore.
Thank you for sharing this video
Thanks for the comment!
Great video... besude the good info..it was not boring and had good sound. I'll check out more ..be well
I just came across your video and yeap.. Soil Sample test is the way to figure out what you need Great Job
Thanks 😊
Personally, I think the Digital RapiTest was the best. It seemed the easiest to complete. Although, I feel that the Soil Savy was probably the most reliable as it comes from a test lab. Great video, very interesting!
I vote the Manual test for its nearly instant resaults and ability for multiple tests .. i also thought the k on the manual was low not normal which would match the mail in sample .. but opinion about the color could be a con of the manual tests
I like the soil savvy the best. Good to know the micro nutrients
I use the soil Savvy and always trust the results.
Loving the extra results from the soil savvy test!
I use Soil Savvy. My results are typically a little lower than I’d like but I’ve heard that is common with their test. Would be interesting to see your results compared to you local Extension office.
Like the rapitest soil tester the best because : get results immediately, basically accurate, easy to use, clear direction, can share extra test kits with others, great utube presentation.
Thank you. Dianne
Thanks for sharing!
Soil Savvy all the way! I've been taking mine to the extension office, but I'm eager to try out a Soil Savvy test.
how did the two compare
Love the videos keep em coming. Interesting the similarities and key differences in the tests. Hoping to be the lucky winner!
Hey my name is Matheus I'm from Brazil and work with diagnosis tests for different diseases. Never heard about this type of test and is so interesting that I wanna test my soil right now! I liked both, but I think the digital is more interesting for using light analisis to determine it semi quantitative with a machine to measure and not just use your own eyes.
Dang for half the price and for 10 tests the luster leaf seems like a winner to me! thanks for the info!
My pleasure
I got it the first time I heard it lol “oh milo” haha I absolutely love this guys videos. I learn so much from him and he’s so down to earth!!
Thanks so much! I'm glad they're helpful to you.
Great job dad! I love that you took the time to show us three different tests. I will get the digital one & send one to a professional test lab like you did. I think I’d trust the sample sent to lab a bit more than the other tests though it’s good to have one on hand!
***Oh & if you’re still doing a giveaway... I’d love to enter to win the digital sample kit! 😆 😊. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for doing these! I haven't decided which to go with yet, but leaning towards Soil Savvy!
I think I will be using the soil savy test going forward, love all the other details it provides.
I prefer the Yard Mastery soil test handydad.tv/ymst
Love the milo smell from straight from tge bag,but not after a good rain storm..really smells bad....also was looking on which test to do..soil savvy is great for your other values of micros & macros ,but after watching your video. .the other less expenive testers work pretty well..Great info,keep the great video's coming 😎
Thanks so much!
Awesome video but i still don’t know which one to use.
I like the precision of Soil Savvy. Not that you need such an exact number for every nutrient. You really just need to know when something is very high (don’t add more) or very low (add more).
I agree with Pat Traynor. But I think the best way to go would be to do it like you did in the video and use all three. That does cost more though.... I think I’d go with the digital because it seems the easiest way with the quickest results.
Great to see your using the results in your recent video for the summer app. I better understand now why the results can be helpful (targeting K).
Yeah the only thing that bothered me was the three tests giving me three different readings. But the majority of poll responses said to trust Soil Savvy over the other two. So I decided to “throw ‘er down and hope for the best.”
For the P I don’t think it was adequate because it was gray and the container colors were blue. I’m so confused because there was no gray on the container color. The only color that was close to the gray was the color that had no blue in it, I guess, and that would have been the most button one. Again, this confused me.
I agree those colors are hard to read. That's definitely why I prefer this one handydad.tv/ymst which is an improved version of Soil Savvy.
Its a crab shoot with test kits. Unless you uniformly apply appropriate nutrients to the whole yard, your gonna have a completely different results each time. I've done 2 separate tests less than 6 feet apart and totally different results. Rainfall and if your yard is on a slope can over time also wash away any applications.
Soil testing is NOT an exact science, for sure.
Thank you for this. It's a tremendous help and I have to figure out what's going with my garden beds. It's been dreadful. I would love to get the Soil Savvy test.
The one performed by an actual lab should be the most accurate. Most reviews rate the DIY test as "Flawed." Also, as you closed up the sample for the lab, I could see some organic matter in the sample, perhaps the K results was thrown out of calibration by the beforementioned organic matter? Great video!
Thanks for the review and the contest. I think the Soil Savvy lab test is the more accurate way to go.
I like Soil Savvy. It gives better result than the other 2 and result have detail information not just N-P-K Ph.
I would love to win the Soil Savvy -- Calcium and magnesium are both important to know as well. Great Video! Thanks
Thank you!!!! from Jersey also I add lime a couple times a year.....never tested, pretty much hit or miss. I like the RapiTest if you are still selecting a winner. Looking forward to more help :)
Thanks for the comment but the contest is over.
Great video I love the soil savvy kit
I'm color blind so the rapitest digital will be the way I go. Nice video.
Fantastic! Digital all the way baby!
i know im super late on this, but i just bought the manual test kit you have. instructions say to fill both sides of the chambers with your sample. this will counterbalance any color differences from the "murky water"
Did I do it wrong? I thought I followed the instructions exactly because it was my first time.
@@handydadtv "4. Using the dropper provided, fill the test and reference chambers to the fill mark on the chart with solution from your soil sample. Solution is added to the reference chamber to compensate for any discoloration in the tested sample caused by the soil." Yeah so I don't know if it would have made a difference in your tests. It seems the potash test perhaps isn't accurate because I see a bunch of people getting mixed results .
Love the manual tester. :) great video.
Thanks 😊
Great Review. I would trust the Soil Savvy the most.
I like the digitalit looks very cool special if you confused with the the reading and don't know exactly what you got at least a digital will tell you what you got for sure thanks for the video
The Milo reference is hilarious. Soil savy would be the one I would like to try.
Thanks for your video showing the differences in the three test. I think I would prefer the manual test looks to be the easiest for the quickest results. I have a garden that I would sure like to see what my soil shows here in Eastern Oklahoma!
thanks for comparing them. Very helpful. You had me laughing too.
Thanks 😊
Great video as always keep up the great content
And I thought the digital one was nice
I like the ones that come in the tubes - soil savy , gets bui to the ballpark of where your soil is ...so u can amend it accordingly
16:40 maybe use a fine sifter to remove the organic matter. Maybe why you got this result. Vary informative video. Thanks for taking the time so I don't have too. Learning alot here.
Thanks
I am going to try and use a coffee grinder that I use for eqq shells before using mortar for pulverizing.
Living in sandy soil I used Soil Savvy to see what needed to be corrected.
Good video. Soil savvy looks best. Simple and easy and get a nice report. I like it.
Soil savvy. I also bought a professional pH tester that requires a regular 3 point calibration (using 3 different pH buffer solutions), and the results of soil savvy were within 0.1 of that test whereas the manual rapitest was over one point off.
Good to know. Thanks.
Thanks for the video. I’d prefer Soil Savy. Thanks again
Will like to win the digital soil tester. Thanks for sharing your experience with the community.
Great video. Soil savy seems like the best bet to me!
I like soil savvy the micro nutrient's are also very important part of the health of the soil.
I like the soil savvy. I have result similar to yours in upstate NY
I would go with Soil Savvy thanks for the video
helpful video. try out lamotte, seems like one of the more reliable manual tests. also can try passing the dried soil through a kitchen sieve
Thanks for the tips
I test my soil with at home tests and lab tests yearly for my vineyard, I have Sandy soil that is about 70% sand, and its basically an ancient sand dune, its Acidic with a Ph of about 6.0 and it has a moderate salt content as well, and is heavy in magnesium but tends to be extremely depleted in nitrogen all the time and is a constant battle to keep any nitrogen in it for grapes, and it also is frequently depleted in copper and boron and I have to add both of those yearly to combat that.
Thanks for sharing
@@handydadtv No Problem, I just get envious of people with reasonably normal soil lol, Vineyards can be a pain cause you want poor quality soil for wine grapes but that opens you up to even more nutrient problems long term.
Great video, soil savvy seems to be the better test.
did you mix the soil before sending it off? cus it will read different numbers since you took it from different areas of your lawn. Also.. why did you even get the soil from different spots.. you should have just gotten it from one area.
The best practice is to take multiple samples and mix them.
Great video!! Soil Savvy was the best IMO.
Video sounds like is for kids
It does fit to me because I have no ideas how to test the soil
I’m trying to learn!
I like digital cause it’s easy to read the color
Thanks for the video
Great job. I'm interested in the manual
Great video. I love it we are both in NJ thank you.
Awesome! Thank you!
I'm thinking manual. A bit concerned about the differences with the on 2 of the tests. Thanks for the little education.
Glad it was helpful!
Very useful information. I like the soil savvy results.
Great work. Soil Savvy is more reliable as its comprehensive and coming from the lab. however the digital rapitest is handy as you get instant results. i am all for the digital rapitest. Will be great to have Digital Rapitest. I am in Ghana - West Africa.
Hello Ghana!
@@handydadtv Hi!
Great video, I like the manual and digital test simply because it's instant. If I win I'd love to give the soil savvy test a try though.
Very interesting and informative Great Job THX
Thanks.
Nicely done! Soil Savvy.
Great video soul savy
I would have to go with the digital test seeing how I have not tried one before let's hope for the best
A.H.
I am leaning toward one of the instant ones...I want to test each area of my lawn separate
Soil Savvy all day! P.S. Just found your channel and I'm loving your videos.
Great video! I like the manual test.
Luster Leaf FTW
👍🏻
I’d be interested in seeing a soil savy vs. the my soil send off testing kit
Yard Mastery, Soil Savvy, and My Soil are virtually identical. In fact they use the same lab. I prefer the Yard Mastery brand because it’s a small company owned by The Lawn Care Nut. handydad.tv/ymst
I would feel more comfortable with the sendoff one.
I’m with you