Question
Is there a home soil testing kit that I can buy that you would trust the results?  Thanks - Charlotte

Answer
There's Soil testing and there's Soil testing.  You can make a steak at home.  If you eat a steak at Delmonico's it's going to be different -- probably better.  If you can make that Delmonico's steak at home, you must have the same equipment they have at Delmonico's: superb cuts of beef, super-high grill BTUs, maybe a special sauce.  You can't buy the same equipment they use at Cornell or Soilfoodweb labs; you can't do the level of testing they do unless you majored in microbiology or some other obtuse specialty that put most people to sleep.  (I happen to love the subject but I am crazy.)

Bottom line:  No.  There is no home soil testing kit that will give you good answers to your soil questions.  But that won't stop people from selling you them.  It's my personal opinion.  Those Cornell tests (or whatever state you are writing from) are moderately priced and worth their weight in gold.

So my friend: GET A SOIL TEST!

Sip Margaritas on the porch and read a good book until they come in the mail.  Don't forget to mow.

Thanks for writing.  Please rate me with a Nomination at the end if you would so that I can hit the Top AllExperts list at the end of the year.  Merci.