Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Kentucky bluegrass, Fescue, Rye and Bent, etc
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Bales9er
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Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by Bales9er » September 20th, 2019, 6:35 am

Anyone use a DIY soil pH kit that you've found to be pretty accurate? Id like to start testing my soil on a regular basis but don't want to send it out everytime. Ive seen them at the big box stores but not sure how accurate those are.

schreibdave
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by schreibdave » September 20th, 2019, 7:34 am

I have no experience with diy tests so i cant answer. But what's your ph and what are u amending with that makes u want to test frequently?

Bales9er
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by Bales9er » September 20th, 2019, 7:58 am

pH hovers around 5, i have beach sand for soil with a TEC of 1.5. I have concerns of aluminum toxicity as the ST6 members helped point out in my last soil test analysis. I'd like to test a couple of real problem areas that just dont sustain any growth to compare with the rest of the lawn and basically keep an eye on how effective my lime/sop applications are over the course of a season.

schreibdave
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by schreibdave » September 20th, 2019, 8:05 am

That makes sense. My ph is 8 and apparently there is no practical way to bring it down. I guess raising ph is more doable. Good luck.

Bales9er
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by Bales9er » September 20th, 2019, 8:20 am

In a strange twist this conversation my research on aluminum toxicity actually mentioned that you can apply aluminum to a soil that has high pH to lower it. I don't know how accurate that is or how easy that is I would imagine you have to be very careful but maybe worth looking into? Someone with a bit more knowledge about soils would have to weigh in as I'm sure there are other factors since I've never seen it suggested on here to others that have high pH


schreibdave
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by schreibdave » September 20th, 2019, 9:15 am

Interesting - hopefully someone here will weigh in.

BTW I also have the Lesco Double Eagle PR. However I am transitioning to a KBG blend. I really like the PR but it does not like our harsh Syracuse winters.

Bales9er
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by Bales9er » September 20th, 2019, 9:21 am

Yeah I started with the Lesco but I've since found another supplier that has their own PR blend And have been overseeding with that. But I agree I had some large areas of winter kill last year expecting it again this year but I guess it all depends on the Temps.

Alias-Dor
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by Alias-Dor » September 20th, 2019, 10:21 am

Bales9er wrote:
September 20th, 2019, 6:35 am
Anyone use a DIY soil pH kit that you've found to be pretty accurate? Id like to start testing my soil on a regular basis but don't want to send it out everytime. Ive seen them at the big box stores but not sure how accurate those are.
The one they sell at Lowe’s was accurate with my P and K deficiency but way off with the soil pH . Idk if soil sample depth matters but for the legit UD test I got soil from 5” deep . The home kit I just dug up some dirt from 1-3 inches deep . It had my pH at 7+ while UD one was 6 .

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andy10917
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Re: Accurate DIY Soil pH Kit?

Post by andy10917 » September 20th, 2019, 6:58 pm

Aluminum for reducing pH around a single plant is one thing. Don't do it for a large area -- bad news.

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