- 1). Find the soil type by placing a small amount into a clear plastic container filled with water. Stir the contents and allow the soil to settle. Clay and organic materials float toward the top. Sand sits at the bottom.
- 2). Dig a hole with a shovel that extends to a depth of 18 inches and 12 inches wide in the spot you plan to plant the tree. Fill the large bucket with water and dump it into the hole. If the water hose is long enough, use it to fill the hole instead of the bucket.
- 3). Check the draining capability in 24 hours, then again after 48 hours. If the water has not completely drained, you have a drainage issue. Too much water results in waterlogged roots and the tree eventually dies.
- 4). Test the pH of the soil by placing a small amount of the soil in a test tube found in the pH testing kit. Add a few drops of the testing solution with water. Cover the opening. Shake the tube and check the color against the color chart to see if the soil is acidic or alkaline. The pH level needed depends on the species of tree. A level above 7.0 indicates alkaline and lower than 7.0 indicates an acidic level.
- 5). Mix sulfur into the soil before planting the tree to receive more acidic results. Mix lime into the soil to achieve a more alkaline level if required by the tree species. The amount of each depends on the desired level and the amount of soil in the area.