My favorite soil test kit for lawns is this mail-in kit by Soilkit. It takes any guesswork out of the process and you get comprehensive results with 48hrs.
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Top 5 Soil Test Kits for Lawns
What can soil test kits for lawns tell me?
A soil test kit for lawns can tell you exactly what your lawn needs for optimum health. Grass soil testers can tell you exactly what nutrients are in your lawn and more importantly, which nutrients you need to add for a healthy lawn.
All good kits will test soil for acidity and available nutrient levels, most commonly all kits will test for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (NPK). Getting the NPK ratio correct is an essential step towards a healthy lawn.
Our List Of Soil Test Kits for Lawns
1. Soilkit Mail-in Soil test kit
The Soilkit soil test kit for lawns will have your report ready within 48hrs of receiving your sample. It is one of the most comprehensive testing plans available. Unlike simple lawn pH test kits, this kit will perform lawn soil analysis on twelve different nutrient factors. These include NPK ratio, magnesium, and calcium.
The soil sample you send is enough to allow a lawn soil analysis for up to 10,000 sq. feet. Once the analysis is complete Soilkit will advise you on what nutrients and fertilizers will optimize the health of your lawn.
2. MySoil Test kit for lawns
The MySoil test kit for lawns is another comprehensive lawn soil test kit that checks for 13 nutrient and soil conditions. This kit is more than just a ph lawn tester, it can test for any growing scenario, including trees, lawn and turf, general gardening, and even soil-less media.
The kit is 100% made in the USA and comes with everything you need including pre-paid postage for your soil sample. The report is available within 6 – 8 days of your soil sample being received. The report includes a customized plan of the best synthetic or organic nutrients for lawn application.
Reviews
All the reviews were positive about this product. Most of the reviews noted how easy the whole process was. Others mentioned that the nutrient and fertilizer recommendations had helped their lawn and in one case a Japanese maple tree.
There were no real negatives, however, one reviewer thought the service could be improved by giving more details about the ideal times and conditions to apply the nutrients.
3. Soil Savvy soil test kit for lawns and plants
The Soil Savvy soil test kit for lawns is more than just a lawn application. Soil Savvy can be used for anything from testing the soil in a vegetable plot to testing the soil for an ornamental plant flower bed. It even lets you know what time of year is best to perform the soil test.
All the samples are tested in a state-of-the-art facility in Walla Walla, Washington. The results are emailed and are also available online. The process is simple, send your sample to the lab using the pre-paid envelope and your results can be available within 48hrs.
Reviews
All the reviewers loved this product. Some were delighted that they got their results in so short a time. Another commented on how his garden went from looking terrible to producing bumper crops after using the soil test kit for lawns.
4. Sunday Smart Lawn Plan
The Sunday Smart Lawn Plan is a complete care plan for your lawn. Included in the plan are the entire nutrient requirements optimized to suit your soil and lawn type. It also uses satellite imagery of your lawn and local climate data to further hone the exact mix of nutrients your lawn deserves.
The plan includes a free soil test, and once Sunday has all the information they require, they tailor a plan which uses a base of over a dozen targeted nutrient pouches to ensure your lawn has exactly the right fertilizer mix.
Reviews
The reviews are extremely positive for this product. Many reviewers were delighted with how fast the supplied nutrients improved their lawn, in one instance a reviewer stated that the change had been almost overnight.
On a negative point, one reviewer did note that after an extremely rainy season, their lawn hadn’t looked worse. Sunday did respond and say that their lawn guru would give them advice.
5. Lawnbright Soil Test Kits for Lawns
Lawnbright’s lawn soil test kit is supplied free when you subscribe to their lawn care plan. The process is simple, answer a few questions online, use the free testing kit, and Lawnbright will perform a lawn soil analysis.
Once this is done you will be shipped a box of customized natural and organic fertilizers every 8 weeks. One great feature is that the customized plan pauses when it isn’t the growing season for grass in your location.
The nutrients are all-natural and include ingredients like sea kelp, blackstrap molasses, and cornmeal.
Reviews
There are only a couple of reviews available for this product, both are very positive. One of the reviewers was delighted that the Lawnbright nutrients had completely cleared up a dead area where a pool had been.
6. Yard Mastery Soil Test Kit for Lawns
The Yard Mastery lawn test kit tests your soils for the presence of 13 nutrients and tailors synthetic and organic fertilizer recommendations based on their findings. All products are manufactured in the USA, including a stainless steel soil probe that is included in the starter pack.
The test results are available online and in most cases, these are available about 4 days after the samples are returned. As well as being great at lawn soil analysis, these kits can be used for any type of gardening soil analysis.
Reviews
Most reviewers loved how easy to use this test was and how the results were simple to understand. One reviewer noted that the results were noticeable within a week. The only slightly negative point that one reviewer noted was that there was no listing for organic matter and Buffer pH.
7. LaMotte NPK Soil Test Kit
As well as being able to test your soil for NPK and up to 50 other tests, the LaMotte soil testing kit is also great for students wanting to learn all about nutrient systems. Although this does test for nutrient levels it cannot test soil for acidity. If you wanted to test for this then a separate pH lawn tester would be required.
But for those who want to garner a deep understanding of the nutrient levels of their soil and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, then this kit is perfect.
Reviews
The reviews are a mixed bag with this one. Many reviewers loved the product and one said it was the best soil testing kit unless you pay hundreds of dollars. Negatives included some reviewers who doubted the accuracy of the tests, and another who was disappointed that there was nothing to run the tests in.
8. Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Kit for Soil
The Luster Leaf kit is perfect for DIY gardeners who want to perform their own tests. The results can be easily interpreted through the use of a color comparative system. The colors can be compared against a supplied color chart for an instant overview of the nutrient levels
This is an inexpensive solution for those who want to be able to check their own soil and calculate their specific nutrient requirements.
Reviews
The reviews are pretty good for this soil test kit for lawns. One reviewer is an environmental scientist and was surprised just how accurate the test was. Another reviewer was delighted that this product had saved their garden!
Negatives include one reviewer who thought it wasn’t any good for phosphate levels and another who had pieces missing from the kit.
9. Rapitest Premium Soil Testing Kit
This kit from Rapitest is another in the selection that is great for gardeners as well as for pupils and students who are learning the science of soil. As well as being a lawn pH test kit, this also checks for NPK levels and can perform 80 tests, four each for pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium.
Reviews
A bit of a mixed bag this one. Some reviewers loved it, saying it was accurate and easy to use. Others were not so pleased, one had trouble getting the filters to work and another said it was wildly inaccurate.
10. Luster leaf Digital Soil Testing Kit
This tester from Luster Leaf has simplified the testing process down to a single button push. It is one of the best lawn pH test kits, as it can carry out 10 tests on the pH level of your soil. As well pH tests it can also test for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash, in total there are twenty-five tests this digital soil tester can perform.
The device uses advanced LED technology to read the soil and the nutrient and pH levels within it. It can read colors more accurately than the human eye. The accompanying booklet tells you how to adjust the levels of pH and nutrients in your soil once the tests are complete.
Reviews
Overall the reviews are pretty good, one reviewer said that the results were accurate. Another thought it was an excellent product. The negatives included one reviewer who said it always showed the same pH level and another who didn’t believe it was accurate.
11. AquaChek AccuGrow pH, NKP Test Strips
These AccuGrow test strips from AquaChek are simple to sue strips that can test your soil in 3 easy steps. This makes the process of testing your lawn fast, easy and accurate. The accompanying booklet includes all the information you need to treat your lawn after you have tested it.
The kit can perform 10 tests on pH levels, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. For those looking for a basic and simple test, this could be a perfect choice.
Reviews
Many of the positive reviews loved how easy the kit was to use. Others loved the booklet and how easy it made when interpreting the results. On the downside, some reviewers doubted the accuracy of the product.
12. Atree Soil pH Meter
For those needing a simple to use lawn pH test kit, then the Atree pH meter is a fantastic choice. As for simplicity, it doesn’t get easier than this, simply insert the probes into the soil to about 4 – 6 inches and depth, and the meter will tell you the pH of your soil.
It is also great for measuring the moisture levels in your garden and houseplants, so you know exactly when your plants need watering.
Reviews
It has a pretty good rating overall, many reviewers commented on how accurate it was and how simple to use it is. One reviewer noted that it did a great job at a fraction of the cost of digital meters. On the negative side, one reviewer said that there’s didn’t work at all and another questioned its accuracy.
Which product from the list should I choose?
For those wanting a full diagnosis of the condition of their soil, then there is no doubt that mail-in soil test kits are the best option. The kits from Soilkit, MySoil, and Soil Savvy are some of the best on the market, and the results are quick.
For those wanting a complete customized nutrient package for their lawns then the tailored packages from Sunday and Lawnbright are great options, the Sunday package uses satellite imagery to help tailor your plan and the Lawnbright option uses only natural fertilizers.
For those wanting to do it themselves and learn along the way then the options from LaMotte and Rapitest are ideal. If all you require is a simple tester to measure the pH of your soil then the Atree Meter really couldn’t be any simpler to use.
And finally, if you prefer the simplicity of a digital soil tester, then the Luster Leaf is a perfect choice.
Are home soil test kits accurate?
They are all accurate to a degree, but there is simply no way that a home tester can replace a fully equipped laboratory. If you just need a general idea of how your soil is faring then a home test kit is fine. However, for a comprehensive result then the mail-in options are more accurate.
How do soil test kits for lawns work?
These work by measuring the chemical reaction when a capsule or liquid is added to your soil sample. By measuring the reaction, the test can determine what the NKP ratio of your soil is. They can also perform a soil pH test using the same methods.
What’s the most professional soil test kit method?
For a truly professional assessment of your soil conditions, then sending a sample of your soil to a specialized lab is the most professional option.
How to perform soil tests for the lawn by yourself?
A simple soil pH test can be performed at home without any specialized equipment. To test for alkalinity put two tablespoons of soil in a bowl and add ½ cup of vinegar. If the mixture goes fizzy then you have alkaline soil. For an acidity test, replace the vinegar with a half cup of baking soda. What is soil pH? The pH of your soil is a crucial factor in maintaining the health of your plants and lawn, many plants thrive on pH levels of between 6.5 and 7.0.
What are mail-in soil test kits?
These are kits that require you to send your soil sample to a specialized laboratory for analysis. The company will then issue a report detailing the status of your soil, they can then either advise on what treatments to use, or in some instances, you can subscribe to a plan that will send you out a customized fertilizer.
Why is the NPK ratio important for lawns?
Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium, make up the three main nutrients that a healthy lawn requires for optimal growth.
My Personal Favorite
These kits are a great way to gain a healthy lawn at minimum cost to the environment. There is no doubt that to get the most accurate results, then a mail-in soil testing kit is the best option.
I love the service provided by Soilkit, the tests are available within 48hrs of your sample being received and their customer care is second-to-none.
Hi, my 2nd Royal Palm tree is dying in the same spot where the first died.
I think the soil is the reason for the same result even the current is under a Palm guy treatment. Is there any way to test the deep soil condition around the palm root ?