|
How To Do A Soil Test Before beginning a garden, experts tell you to do a soil test. But they don't always tell you how. A soil test is easy to do and provides important information about chemicals in the soil where you're about to plant. A soil test includes these steps. First, make sure you have a shovel, a clean bucket, a trowel, a soil sample box and the information sheet that comes with the soil sample box. You can pick up the soil sample box at any county Extension office. Next, with the shovel, take a core sample of soil from as far down as possible. Try to get a sample from at least six or eight inches down, or as deep as vegetable roots usually grow. Put the soil in the clean bucket. Move a few feet over and take another core sample. Complete these steps six or seven times, all over your plot. With your trowel, mix the core samples in the bucket. It is important that you mix the soil well and keep it moist but not wet. After you have mixed the soil, take about a pint of it and fill the soil sample box. Be sure you print your name and address on the box and include the information sheet. See your local county Extension agent for more information and
mail your soil test to: |