1.

Dig a small hole in the soil. Use a trowel or spade to dig a hole 24 inches (5.1

10.2 cm) deep. Break up the soil within the hole and remove any twigs or foreign debris.
2.

Fill the hole with water. Use distilled (not spring) water. Fill the hole until you have a

muddy pool at the bottom.

3.

Insert the test probe into the mud. Make sure your tester is clean and calibrated (for a

more exact measurement). Wipe the probe with a tissue or clean cloth, and insert it into the
mud.

4.
Hold it there for 60 seconds and take a reading. pH is usually measured on a
scale of 1-14, though the tester may not include this entire range.

A pH of 7 indicates neutral soil.

A pH above 7 indicates alkaline soil.

A pH below 7 indicates acidic soil.

5.

Take several measurements in different spots in the garden. A single reading may

be an anomaly, so it's good to get an idea of the average pH in a plot. If they're all around the
same, take the average and amend the soil accordingly. If one spot is very different than the
rest, however, you may need to "spot treat" it.