Soil testing in garden - ph test strips/vials vs electronic meters?

Hi,

Am planning a lot of planting in a new garden, have been advised to test the ph levels to help me narrow down plant choices.

There seem to be various potions - kits with ph strips or little vials, or electronic probes. I'm leaning towards the electronic probes, as can reuse and test in as many locations as I like - plus might also be useful for testing water levels of houseplants?

Don't need super accurate readings, just a good idea of how acidic or alkaline the soil is.

Any recommendations for which type is best?

Thanks!

 

I bought an Electronic probe some years ago, it works fine for me.
My garden is quite long and the readings change as I go to the top.

 

For anybody wishing to choose a location, or to understand the conditions they have, much information can be found here:
About BGS - British Geological Survey
Of course if the plot you have has been cultivated in previous years, the inherent soils may have been modified a little, but the overall conditions will rarely change significantly; it provides the default, to which it will likely return.