Paper test strips will not accurately measure soil pH. A pH of 7.0 is neutral, while values below 7.0 are acidic and values above 7.0 are alkaline or basic. Examples of these include blueberries, raspberries and azaleas. It is extremely difficult to change soil pH. Select soil with the appropriate pH for the desired vegetation. Most soils in Utah have pH's in the mid-7.0 to low 8.0 range. A mixture of sand, silt, and clay is desirable.
Soils are unacceptable if they are dominated by one particle size.
It is not feasible to change soil texture on a large scale. Excessively large amounts of sand, silt or clay are required to change soil texture. Organic matter . Generally, the higher the level of organic matter, the better the soil quality. In Utah, native soil organic matter levels are low, often less than 1 percent by weight.