Getting Your Soil Tested

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Good, healthy soil is the foundation of a beautiful lawn. Before planting on fresh soil, you should have it tested for salinity, pH levels, and nutrient content. The information you gather from having your soil tested can help you plan your new lawn and prevent any problems such as lawn diseases and weeds.

Some states offer soil tests from their county cooperative office. Sometimes, you may have to go to a private lab to get your soil tested. Look for a private lab through the internet or under the "Soil Laboratories" heading in the yellow pages. They will probably give you a list of instructions on how to collect soil samples, and you should follow these instructions to the letter.

To collect soil samples, you can use a soil probe for best results. However, a shovel or spade can also do the job. For cultivated gardens, getting samples to a tillage depth of 6 to 10 inches is ideal. For no till or minimum till gardens, you should take a sample from a depth of 0 to 1 inch, and another sample at a depth of 1 to 6 inches. Just make sure to remove any plant residue from your sample.

Sample soil from 10 different areas of your lawn. Mix all the samples together in a plastic bucket to obtain a composite soil sample. You can also keep the soil sample from different areas of your lawn in a separate bag, especially if different areas have different soil types. Label your soil sample with your name and contact information before sending it off.
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It is ideal that you gather a dry soil sample. Not only will they be cheaper to mail to a far soil testing lab, but they will give more accurate results.

You should have your soil tested every 2 to 3 years to see the effects of any fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides you apply.