Testing your soil

Soil-testing kits available and by and large they do a very good job of accurately testing your soil. Try:, Software for Gardening, Gardening Events in Georgia However, if you are only interested in knowing if your soil Other resources include:, Randall, Japanese Garden Maintenanceis acid or otherwise, without worrying about degrees of acidity or alkalinity, here is a simple test you could make.

First, buy a packet of blue Also consider:, Dolomite, Plant Shapinglitmus papers from your chemist. Next, using a trowel, take samples of soil Go here:, How to Plant Roses, Architects in Turkeyfrom different sections of the area you wish to test. Mix well together.

Then add sufficient of this soil Other resources include:, Barbecues, Randallto fill a breakfast cup and pour boiling water Including:, Sowing Seed in Cold Frames, Insurance in Marylandover it to form a sticky mass. Then, using a knife, make a slit in the soil Including:, Bonsai Propagation, Mortgage Resources New Jerseyan inch or so deep and insert a litmus paper for about three parts of its length. Make sure that both sides of the litmus paper are making contact with the soil Try:, Watering Roses, Mortgage Resources Utahand allow it to remain there for 15 minutes. After that time remove the paper.

If it has turned red your soil Including:, Potted Roses, Feeding Rosesis acid. If the paper is only faintly red the soil Go here:, Feeding Roses, testis only slightly acid, but if it turns very red your soil And:, Cleaning House Plants, Architects in Turkeyis very acid.

What's Inside

Sowing Seeds in Glasshouses - There are various methods of seed sowing that apply to plants raised in glasshouses and cold frames, but the necessary requirements for germination-moisture, warmth and air -are the same as those for sowing out of doors.... more

Humidity and House Plants - For healthy growth all but desert cacti, succulents and snake plants need relative humidity in the vicinity of 40 to 50 per cent. This will not cause dampness of furnishings but is about the same as we need for healthy, comfortable living.When air is heat... more

Pruning Newly Planted Roses - Make fresh cuts wherever long stubs have been left above nodes or dormant buds. Less pruning is required by climbing and shrub roses. because the original stems will be pruned off at the base one to two years after planting to make space for the new growt... more

Propagating Roses - Propagation by cuttings is generally not as successful as by budding. Commercially the method is quite impracticable since a shoot which provides several buds yields only one cutting, and budding is much quicker. Even if the cutting should root, it may su... more

Mulching Roses - Do not spread compost or old farmyard manure around rose-bushes in winter because this keeps the ground cold and wet. Instead, use it as a summer mulch to conserve moisture. Many other products are available to mulch roses, including old sawdust, straw, l... more

Bonsai Propagation - Bonsai may be created from any woody or semi-woody plant, and there are several ways to obtain good material. Plants may be propagated from seed or cuttings, by layering or any other technique, or they can be found already grown in nurseries or naturally.... more

Plants for Japanese Gardens - The following are some plants that are recommended for japanese gardens. Note that not all are necessarily hardy, but do lend them selves to the form and function requried for a japanese garden.... more

Will lime break up clayey soil? - Although many soils benefit by the application of lime, lime will not alter the structure of the soil to any extent. Better results could be achieved by applying generous applications of stable and cow manure or compost and coarse sand. Turn these in no d... more