"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." If you want your plants to grow big and healthy, soil quality matters. Even if you aren’t planning on ...

Testing garden soil is the best way to determine what it needs—if anything—and how much. A variety of soil testing kits are available, but how reliable are they? Home gardeners rely on these kits when ...

Discover why you should test your soil in January, with insights from a garden expert. Get ahead of the growing season by ...

When it comes to your plants, you can't cheat. If you cut a corner, the results are gonna be felt in your garden: stressed plants that are susceptible to disease, produce less fruit, and fruit that ...

Ready to plant? Don't forget to test your soil pH. Before planting your garden don't forget to test your soil pH level to learn how acidic or basic it is. This could be a deciding factor in whether ...

Is soil testing important? How can I get my soil tested? The first question is do you need a soil test? There are several situations where a soil test may be appropriate: 1. Landscaping a new home ...

Peter Richards tests the reliability of do-it-yourself home soil test kits. This week on The Family Plot: Gardening in the Mid-South, local gardener Peter Richards demonstrates how to use different ...

As the warmth of summer approaches, now is the perfect time to prepare your garden soil for a successful growing season. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a first-time grower, healthy soil is the ...

I want to plant a blueberry bush this spring, but prior attempts have failed. I’ve read that they require acidic soil. Could ...

To grow good plants, you need good soil. The only way to tell what your soil really needs is to take a soil test. Applying too much fertilizer could be detrimental to your plants. You could waste ...