If you want a thriving garden, knowing your soils make up is the key first step. By taking a proper soil sample, you can get insights into its nutrients, pH level, and overall health. This information helps you choose the right plants and amendments for a successful growing season.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Soil probe (ideal) or clean garden spade/trowel
- Clean plastic bucket
- Gloves (optional)
- Labeling material (permanent marker, tag)
Steps to Take:
Timing is key:
- Avoid sampling when the soil is very wet. If it is necessary to sample very wet soil, spread the sample in a thin layer on a clean sheet of waxed paper or plastic and allow it to dry at room temperature before testing
Define your sampling area:
- If your garden has distinct zones (flower beds, vegetable patches and lawn), take separate samples for each.
Taking the cores:
- Using a soil probe: Push the probe straight down and extract a core. Repeat this process 10-15 times in a zig-zag pattern across your chosen area.
- Using a spade/trowel: Dig a hole about 6-8 inches deep for lawns and 3 inches for flowers or veggies. Cut a clean, 1-inch wide slice of soil from top to bottom. Take similar slices from several spots within the area.
Mixing and labeling:
- Remove any debris like roots, leaves or rocks from your samples.
- Combine all the cores/slices for a specific area in your clean bucket and mix them thoroughly.
- Take about 1 cup of the mixed soil for testing.
Label your sample bag:
- If submitting for testing Include the date, location within your garden, and any specific concerns you have.
Testing:
- You can test the ph level yourself with a kit from Gray Barn Farm
- For in depth testing you can submit your sample to Cornell https://cceorangecounty.org/gardening/soil-testing-for-home-gardeners
Bonus Tip: Avoid using tools made of brass, bronze, or galvanized steel, as these metals can contaminate your sample.
By following these steps, you’ll get a representative soil sample that provides valuable information for optimizing your garden’s health. Happy testing!