A few times throughout this guide it has been explained (in a few different ways) how to measure the pH level of your soil with a solution-based meter. However, now it is time to go in-depth and inform you exactly how to perform it. Firstly, go ahead and get roughly 15 samples of the soil that you are looking to measure. Once you have obtained these, place them in a clean plastic container. Now that you have your testing data, so to speak, take a small amount of the soil and mix it with the same amount of distilled water (one to one ratio).
Make sure you do this in a closed container as you will need to thoroughly shake the soil and water together. Once it seems they are adequately mixed, let the new solution sit for around five minutes. Now, you can insert the probe into the solution for your results. Again, this is only necessary if you invest in a pH meter that is not designed to go directly into the soil.