Garden Soil Testing

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Vegetable Gardening Series

Test The Garden Soil For pH And Nutrient Value

The first step to starting a successful vegetable garden is by conducting a garden soil test. This allows you to see if you need to amend your garden soil prior to planting vegetable or fruit seeds and plants. It is the first step to helping you grow the best vegetables in the shortest amount of time and help you save money by only buying the things you need to have to make your garden successful.

The reason for a garden soil test is that the existing soil in your garden beds may not have the proper pH value and nutrients to support healthy plants & vegetables. A soil test from Southern States is the most accurate, scientific way to discover exactly what your soil needs.

How to Test

Simply pull approximately 10 plugs of dirt about 3-6 inches deep from different areas of your garden. Any tool will do, such as a garden trowel, however if you have an old pipe laying around, you can use this and a hammer to get nice core samples. Ultimately, the goal is simply to get garden soil samples a few inches below the surface. Remove any debris such as rocks, grass, and roots. Combine the collected soil in a clean, pint-sized paper bag and take it to your Southern States garden experts. The sample will be sent for professional lab analysis and takes about 7-10 days (it may take longer during peak planting months, so test early). The test will provide detailed information about your garden soil’s pH and nutrient needs.

Soil Test Nutrient Levels

A pH level of 6.0-6.5 is important for the garden plants to get the most out of the soil nutrients. Anything less indicates too much acid and lime should be applied to neutralize the soil. Numbers greater than 6.5 indicate alkalinity and sulfur should be used to make the soil more acidic.

Your soil may also be lacking in certain nutrients. The soil test will determine exactly which fertilizers your hungry soil is craving. Based on the soil test results, your Southern States garden experts can help you choose the right fertilizer blend for your soil.

Call us or come in to a local Southern States and get gardening advice today. We'll be glad to help. Find the phone number and address using our Southern States Store Locator.