Soil Testing

1) Survey your garden (veggie plot or flower beds). Select approximately 12 different locations around this garden to collect samples from.

2) Put on your gloves, cross contamination is the biggest enemy to a soil test. You want to make sure you have clean tools and you don't touch any soil with your bare hands. Keep your soil "clean."

3) For each of your 12 samples, dig down 8 inches into your soil. Bring out a good scoop, about 1-2 cups of soil and dump the soil in your clean bucket.
Do this for all 12 sample areas, all 12 samples go into the same bucket.

4) Keep your gloves on and use your clean tools to mix the 12 soil samples together.

If the soil is very moist, in a draft free area (garage, basement, porch...), spread out a thick layer of paper towels. Keep a clean side up on the paper towels, no cross-contamination. Spread out 2 cups of your soil mixture onto the paper towels. Let the soil air dry overnight. Keep it clean.

5) The next day, gloves back on. You'll need to collect 1 cup of that air dried soil and place it in a clean zip-lock bag.

Label the bag with your name, address, and phone number. Give the soil sample a name (veggie beds, rose garden, new house...) and write that on the bag for reference.



A good soil test gives you the specific nutrient needs of your garden so you do not waste time and money on the wrong fertilizers. By carefully testing your soil, you can find out the specific needs of your garden, assuring that each crop gets exactly what it needs to grow and yield to its fullest potential.

pH - Soil pH is the factor which determines whether or not plants are able to consume nutrients. If the pH is too high or too low, nutrients in the soil become unable to be absorbed by the plants.

NITROGEN - Adequate nitrogen enhances growth of stalks, stems, leaves, and grasses. Excessive nitrogen causes too rapid growth those can result in softness of tissue and general plant weakness. Having too much nitrogen in your soil can also promote active 'green' growth which retards flower and seed formation. Plants suffering from nitrogen deficiency are more susceptible to disease, infection, and injury.

PHOSPHORUS - Phosphorus gives plants a rapid start, stimulates root formation, hastens maturation and aids blooming and seed formation.

POTASH (POTASSIUM) - Proper amounts of potash stimulate early root or tuber formation which is essential for all underground vegetables and tuberous flowers. Excessive potash reduces a plant's resistance to droughts and frost injury and delays plant maturity.

HOW TO GATHER SOIL SAMPLE - Gather a soil sample from three to six inches below the surface using a clean instrument such as a soil sampler, trowel or spoon. Since test results are sensitive to external factors such as ashes, never smoke while gathering or testing your soil and avoid touching the sample with your hands.

Put samples in clean containers and label according to which part of the garden they were gathered from. Samples should be taken from various areas, especially when there is a change in the elevation of the land or where there might be a variation in the soil (a particularly sunny spot, an area beneath a tree, a part of your garden that has been under cultivation, or low-lying areas which collect water). It is best to take samples from each corner and the center of the plot in any case.

The soil should not be too wet. If it is not dry enough to walk on, allow it to air dry naturally rather than over direct heat.

With a properly fertilized lawn and/or garden, with the soil adjusted to the correct pH level, you should have little problem growing beautiful flowers, the juiciest, most nutritious vegetables, or the thickest, greenest lawn in town.