Soil Testing Basics

While it is still a bit early to garden, there is one thing you can do now, or at least till the snow covers the ground, to improve your garden for the summer. It won’t take you too long and doesn’t cost too much, but a soil sample can make a world of difference in your garden this summer and into the future.

One of the biggest questions I get asked when I talk about this topic is, “Why should I test my soil? The vegetables grow yearly, and I haven’t had any issues.” That can be a tricky question to answer. However, my response will always be that just because you don’t see an issue now doesn’t mean you don’t have one, and you may be wasting money adding fertilizers or amendments you don’t need. A soil test can quickly tell you the pH of the soil and the levels of phosphorus and potassium, allowing you to decide what type of fertilizer, if any, you need to add. Too much of those nutrients can cause plants to grow poorly or die. A soil sample and some recommendations from your Extension office can help your garden be productive in the coming year.

A soil sample is easy to take. Test results will only be as reliable as the sample collected, so proper methods are essential. Follow these steps:

Using a clean shovel or soil probe, dig down to a depth of:

  • 3 inches for lawns,
  • 6 inches for vegetables, flowers, and small fruits,
  • 10 to 12 inches for trees and shrubs.

Take at least 4 - 5 samples from the area to be tested to equal two cups. Mix samples in a clean, plastic container. Remove all plant material or debris. If you sampled more than one area, such as a lawn and a vegetable garden, keep the samples separate. The different plants (grass vs vegetables) need other nutrients, and to get the best recommendations, keep the two areas separate. Avoid sampling overly wet soil right after a rain or snowmelt, as well as soil that has been recently fertilized. Soil samples should be dry, but do not use heat to dry your sample; instead, wait a few days for the area to dry out or lay your sample out in a box or on newspaper to dry for a few days. For more information on Soil Sampling, see this website: https://www.butler.k-state.edu/horticulture/Soil%20Tests.html

 

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Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu