The simplest (and cheapest) garden soil test involves getting your hands dirty!

There are lots of soil tests that you can do to learn about your garden soil composition, the minerals it contains, pH, and more, but one of the simplest (and least expensive) tests is just to get out there and get your hands dirty!

This short video explains how to analyze your soil’s texture and water-holding capacity just by touching it, rubbing it, and yes, even listening to it.

Understanding your soil composition is important for growing a successful garden, as it will have a huge impact on the amount of water your soil can hold, which in turn impacts how often you will need to water, as well as whether you will have any drainage issues.

Watch this video for a quick hands-on tutorial on what you can learn from touching your soil: