What's a very reliable/accurate/inexpensive way to check garden soil?
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Most garden and home improvement store sell soil testers
giva a call to your local county extension office, there may be a master gardener available....they will bring out soil testing kits, interperate them, and make suggestions on how to improve the gardening conditions. When I could garden in ground...I did companion gardening.at your local library there may be a book called carrots love tomatoes. It helps to balance the soil. What one plant uses, the other provides.
You can buy a soil tester at your local garden store. It will give all the info you need to make a proper soil mix for whatever you plan on planting. We do this and it's much easier and cheaper than a master gardener.
Google "Agricultural extension service" and add your state. You will find a resource that will test a sample of your soil . To improve your soil a tried and true method is to add compost. Gather lawn trimmings , leaves and other trimmings from your yard and compost them. Here are some ideas
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/lasagna-gardening-zmaz99amztak
https://learningandyearning.com/lasagna-gardening
Send it to your local Extension Group, that is often run either through the county or through a local University.