Soil testing measures available plant nutrients in soil, how acid soil is, and its organic matter content. With soil test information, fertilizer and lime recommendations can be made for your lawn.
Soil testing involves two steps. First, collect a soil sample from your lawn. Second, send it to a laboratory for analysis. Since front and back yards are often treated differently, you should take separate samples from each area. Do not mix soil from lawns with soil from vegetable and flower gardens.
For a good soil sample, follow these steps:
- Gather a plastic bucket that hasn't had dish soap in it, a garden trowel or putty knife, and enough quart-sized bags for each soil sample. Plastic or paper bags work fine or request a soil bag from the testing lab.
- It's important to fill out a test form and to mark a bag with your name, address, and phone number. Include a four-letter name of your choice, like BACK, SIDE, etc. Note on the bag whether it is a newly seeded or existing lawn. Also note whether you water regularly, and if you remove grass clippings.
- Walking in a zigzag pattern, take ten sub-samples. Place them in the bucket.
- Sub-samples should be taken in this way: Scrape the turf away from an area that's the size of your hand. Dig a small hole. Cut a slice of soil from the side of the hole and put it in the bucket. On existing lawns, slice down 3 inches deep. On new lawns, slice down 6 inches deep. Take care NOT to sample too deep.
- After ten sub-samples are taken, mix them completely. Put two cups in the sample bag, and seal. If you do not have 2 cups worth of soil, collect more sub-samples.
- Box and send your sample and soil test form for analysis.
- To obtain soil test kits, call your Extension office or contact the University of Minnesota Soil Testing Laboratory at: Soil Testing Lab, 1902 Dudley Ave., St. Paul, MN, 55108-6089. The fee is $15.00 per sample. Checks should be made out to "University of Minnesota." Results will be returned to you in about one week.
For more information visit The Soil Testing Lab Web site.
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