Testing Your Soil
Soil Health
Testing your soil replaces guesswork with useful evidence about pH, texture, drainage and plant nutrition. Simple checks can be done at home, while laboratory analysis gives a fuller picture for difficult or intensively cropped ground. Test separate beds where conditions differ, then use the results to guide compost, lime and fertiliser decisions.
What it is
A basic soil test combines observation with a few straightforward checks. A pH kit indicates acid, neutral or alkaline conditions. A hand texture test distinguishes gritty sand, silky silt and sticky clay, while a jar test can show settled layers after soil is mixed with water. Existing plants, moss, puddling, cracks and leaf colour also offer clues, though none proves a diagnosis alone. Laboratory tests can assess nutrient levels and organic matter more precisely. Results vary with season, depth and recent additions, so take representative samples rather than relying on one scoop.
What to do
Walk the garden first and divide it into areas that behave differently, such as a wet corner, a raised bed and a border over chalk. From each area, take small samples from several clean points at a similar depth, mix them in a clean bucket and test a portion. Use a simple pH kit, perform a hand texture test and observe drainage after rain. For persistent poor growth or heavy cropping, send a representative sample to a recognised laboratory. Record the date, result and any amendments used, then test again after a suitable interval to see whether changes helped.
Tips
Avoid sampling immediately after liming, fertilising or adding fresh compost, as results may be misleading. Label samples carefully and compare like with like. A test result is a guide, not a command: combine it with drainage, sunlight and crop observations. If uncertain, ask the RHS or a local garden centre for help interpreting it.
Testing Your Soil: frequently asked questions
What is testing your soil?
A basic soil test combines observation with a few straightforward checks.
How do I improve testing your soil?
Walk the garden first and divide it into areas that behave differently, such as a wet corner, a raised bed and a border over chalk.
What are some tips for testing your soil?
Avoid sampling immediately after liming, fertilising or adding fresh compost, as results may be misleading.
General guidance for UK gardens and allotments. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.