Soil test- acid or alkaline- worked

[jenn]

Assuming my clay soil with azalea and pines growing in the area is acidic, I googled our area trying to get someone to commit to that. Nope, we're near Limestone County and might have alkaline! But I did find this kitchen table test: take 2 T soil, add vinegar- fizz? alkaline. Take another 2 T soil, dissolve in distilled water, add 1/2 c b soda- fizz? acidic. Not having any plain cheap vinegar and expecting acid, I just did the second test, controlling for the tap water I used instead of distilled with another batch of b soda. Even 82 year old Mom could hear it! Acid it is, and the tap water, not appreciably to our ears. So I dumped the b soda mess out onto the garden where I won't be planting any acid lovers. (I guess though the real control is to do the vinegar test- what if that fizzes also?!?!?) And I guess I'll buy some lime this year. But probably not a soil test.