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Soil Testers and other equipment
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Posted by deirdre_2007 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 19:42
Good afternoon,
I'm making out my Holiday wish list and this year, instead of plants, I'm thinking I need equipment. Specifically, I need a good soil tester (I'd prefer not to have to do strips, I'd rather have a probe type) as well as a good light meter. Yes, I know I could just observe the way the light hits my garden and record it, but although I've attempted to to this for over two years, I never quite follow through, life seems to get in the way!!!
Lastly, I saw something called the "Easy Bloom" and I'm half tempted to buy it. It's on the pricey side, which stops me from buying it, but I'm wondering if anyone has ever used it and whether or not they'd recommend it.
I've been gardening for over 12 years and I really enjoy it. But ever since I moved to NC, I don't seem to reap the benefits of my hard work. I know this is due to the very heavy clay soil, but I'm just looking for some strategic tools that will help me work "smarter" instead of "harder" all the time.
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!!
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Soil Testers and other equipment
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| deirdre, I googled Easy Bloom and it sounds pretty remarkable if it can get accurate soil and moisture tests as it claims to. Amazon had it at 44.49 with free shipping. I'd say go for it. If you're not a rabid gardener and trying to raise out of zone plants it sounds like this doohickey could save you a bunch of $$ over trial and error methods. |
RE: Soil Testers and other equipment
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| I personally think any tester that is sold without calibration standards to use in calibrating the instrumentation sounds like a load of bunk, but then being a scientist makes me leary in that manner. Without standards, how do you know that any results you get mean anything??? I would do further research on it and contact the manufacturer and ask to see information on how it works and how you go about calibrating your instrument. If they can't give you any credible information, then I would stay clear of it. |
RE: Soil Testers and other equipment
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| I don't know anything about this product. But I have been disappointed with all probes I have used in the past. But this product seems to integrate with an online database that might be useful. Read the reviews on Amazon for more details. If you are in NC, cooperative extension does basic soil testing for free (pH, soil class, humic levels, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc). They charge only if you want an analysis of heavy metals. |
Here is a link that might be useful: NC Cooperative Extension
RE: Soil Testers and other equipment
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| Wondering, would the soils not vary from place to place in the yard expecially in new construction where the soil is added from a variety of sources? |
RE: Soil Testers and other equipment
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| The price for the Easy Bloom dropped to $38 and free shipping, so I put it on my Holiday Wish list with STRONG suggestions to dear ole hubby. I'll keep you posted. In terms of my garden, I have some areas that plants do well in and several areas that nothing takes. Plants that should thrive, Homestead verbena, lantana, etc, do not survive. So I plan on concentrating my efforts in these areas first. Of course, it's the spot that you can see out my kitchen window!!! I think I'll invest in a soil kit from one of the big box stores and see what happens. If I do not have any success, then I will definitely contact the Extension office. Thank you all for your replies. |
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