Grow healthier gardens with a soil test – InkFreeNews.com

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Soil testing can be used to evaluate fertilization practices and diagnose problems in lawns and gardens. Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com.

Melinda Myers
Guest columnist

Soil is the foundation of a healthy garden, but let’s be honest, most gardeners don’t like to spend time, energy and money on it. It’s more fun to show off beautiful flowers or share delicious vegetables. But creating a healthy soil base will increase your growing success, which means more beautiful flowers, bigger yields, and a healthier landscape.

Melinda Myers

When creating a new lawn, landscape or garden bed, start with a soil testing. Use soil testing to evaluate fertilization practices and diagnose problems in existing lawns and gardens. Prioritize and spread costs starting with new gardens or struggling lawns. Then institute an ongoing testing schedule that tests one or two existing gardens each year. Testing lawns and gardens every few years can help improve their health, while helping to avoid improper and over-fertilizing that can negatively impact your landscape and the environment.

A soil test report will tell you if any fertilizers are needed and which fertilizer is best for the plants you are growing. It also assesses soil pH, acidity and alkalinity, notifying you of any necessary adjustments. Checking this before applying fertilizer or adjusting soil pH can help avoid many problems caused by applying too much or the wrong amount of fertilizer, lime, sulfur or other products.

You can take a soil sample for testing if the soil is not frozen and you have not fertilized recently. Autumn is a great time, as it allows you to implement the results of soil tests before the next growing season.

Contact your local or state University Extension Service to find a qualified soil testing lab near you. Many have a state laboratory that provides this service for a fee, while others provide lists of soil testing laboratories in your area.

Take separate samples for each type of planting, the bed and, if necessary, the lawn. As you may have discovered, soil can vary greatly from one place to another. Fill may have been added during home construction, topsoil used to create beds, and other soil changes that may affect your growing success. Sampling individual beds, mixed borders, and lawns provides better information about existing conditions and what is needed to grow these types of plants.

Use a clean spatula and bucket to collect a soil sample. If necessary, remove the mulch and remove a narrow patch of soil four to six inches deep where many plant roots are growing.

Take a few samples from the garden or lawn you want to test. Collect samples from each edge and a few in the middle of the bed or lawn. Mix the samples together, place about a cup in a plastic bag, and send it to the soil testing lab. Please allow a few weeks to complete the test and receive the results.

Consider adding soil testing to your garden preparation and ongoing maintenance. These investments will help you grow healthier, more productive and more beautiful gardens and landscapes.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 books on gardening, including The Midwest Gardener’s Guide, 2nd Edition and small gardening. She teaches Big Courses”How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.