thommesM said:
I may just go on a soil test. I'm thinking that I'll get each bed tested, though they are treated all the same so I'd expect the results to be similar. I just would like to see the pH of the berry beds as they like a lower pH. You're right I don't think I'd use it often and a soil test would give me more info.
My grandfather bought one of the first soil pHmeter when they became available in the early 80's. I think he used it less than a dozen times before it ended up being uncerimoniously hung in his storeroom.
The ultra-expensive soil test kit (NPK) he bought a few months later lasted even less before being relegated to the same room.
The morale of this story was "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".
Personally I've found the only plants that suffered due to soil unbalances were Lenten roses but once I realized they don't like acidic peat-based soils I had no problem growing them.
