How to Pick Soil for Perennial Flowers

Picking the right soil for your perennial garden doesn't have to be difficult. Armed the right tools and little knowledge, you will soon have perennial flower beds that will delight the eye for years to come.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PH soil test kit
• Soil test kit (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium)
• Spade
• Glass jars (optional, depending on kit)
• pencil
• notepad

Drainage

1. Pick an area that has good water drainage. Unless you intend to grow plants that are well suited to wet marshy areas, soil that remains wet for prolonged periods in the spring may kill off your perennials before they even get started in the Spring.

2. Observe the area after heavy storms to determine how well the soil drains. If water stands on the area for more than an hour after heavy rains, the soil is too wet for most perennials.

3. Check the area in early Spring when the snow and ice have melt. If the area is flooded with water that does not dissolve into the soil, the area may be too wet to support a flower garden.

4. Choose an area that drains well but does not dry out excessively in summer sunshine.

Determining PH Level

5. Purchase an inexpensive soil test to determine the PH level of your soil. You can purchase test kits for under $10 at most gardening supply stores. These kits come complete with instructions for use.

6. Dig a spadeful of soil from the garden area. Loosen the soil until it is crumbly.

7. Gather a sample of the soil in a clean container.

8. Follow the soil test kit instructions to measure the PH of your soil. This generally involves adding fresh soil to a jar of water, adding a few drops of testing solution and mixing it well. Let this mixture set for the specified amount of time. The water will change color indicating the PH level in your soil. Compare the color of the water to the chart provided in the kit to determine the PH level of your soil. Some kits use litmus paper to test PH. Always follow the instructions in the particular kit you have purchased.

Test for Phoshorus, Nitrogen, and Potassium

9. Purchase a soil test kit at your local garden supply store.

10. Gather three samples of your soil and test it according to the directions in the kit. This generally involves adding the soil to water and shaking it to mix thoroughly.

11. Add the tablets from the test kit, making sure to label the jar so you will know which nutrient you are measuring. It is easy to confuse results if jars are not labeled properly.

12. Wait the specified amount of time and compare the color of the water to the provided chart. Record your results for future reference.

Tips & Warnings

• A PH readings lower than 7.0 are considered acidic and readings above 7.0 are considered alkaline. 7.0 is considered neutral.
• Follow recommendations in the soil test kit to raise or lower PH to meet the particular needs of the perennials you wish to grow.
• Amend soil according to the guide provided in the test kit to balance Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
• Record all test results in a notebook for future reference. Once you have made corrections to the soil, you will need to compare the results of new soil tests to the old one. This will give you a good idea of how effective your treatment has been and allow you to fine tune your efforts.

Resources

• Acid loving Plants PH 4.0 - 6.0
• Neutral Plants PH 5.0 - 7.0
• Plants for Alkaline Soil PH Above 7.0