Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Person sifting through the soil near a plant - Seizavisuals/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Testing the soil in your lawn and garden helps you pinpoint problems before they get out of hand and gives you a chance to add the amendments your plants need to grow better. The question arises, ...

Learn how to perform a home DIY soil test for alkaline or acidic soils and what you need to know about minerals in your water. For the past three years, I’ve had blossom end rot on all my tomatoes.

If you want your plants to grow big and healthy, soil quality matters. Even if you aren’t planning on growing a lush veggie garden, all plants need nutrients to grow, in addition to light and water.

Before applying fertilizer or any other soil amendment, it's a good idea to see what the soil already contains. That way you won't be inadvertently increasing a nutrient the soil already has plenty of ...

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 ...

When it comes to what you can grow in your garden (and more importantly, what you can't), few things are as important as soil. Especially because, to a very large extent, you are stuck with the soil ...

Regularly testing your soil is more important than you might think for helping your plants thrive. Soil tests measure soil pH and nutrient content. The soil of established gardens should be tested ...