Take Your Soil to School with a Soil Test
Are you getting your garden, lawns, crop fields, or pastures ready for this upcoming spring? Time is ticking to get those soil tests complete, nutrient plans set, and fertilizer ordered. Your first step is to collect your soil tests and drop them off at the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District.
Soil tests may seem like an added cost to some, but they set the base of yournutrient plan. With the price of fertilizer these days, knowing your soil test values could decrease the amount you are buying, which keeps more money in your pocket.
If you're struggling with plant growth, then a soil test is the quickest and easiest way to find out what nutrients are deficient and what the issue may be. Ensuring that your soil is nutritious and is the highest quality it can be can lead to tremendous crop growth and/or a better-looking lawn!
Here at Ashland Soil and Water, we offer six different types of soil testing. All six soil tests include a complete test, which tests the rates of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and nitrogen. The test also analyzes the pH, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter. There are three types of soil testing that we do that are targeted mainly for your turf. Then three types that are geared toward your agricultural lands.
The list of soil tests and prices is as follows:
Ag S1: Basic Soil Test Package $10
Ag S2: Basic Plus Soil Test Package $15
Ag S3: Complete Soil Test $20
Turf T1: Basic Turf & Ornamental Soil Test Package $15
Turf T2: Basic Plus Turf & Ornamental Soil Test Package $20
Turf T3: Complete Tuf & Ornamental Soil Test Package $45
With our agriculture testing, we will then produce a Voluntary Nutrient
Management Plan for our customer. For reference, we use Tri-State Fertilizer guides.
We can take the results from the soil test and the goals of the farm to create a plan that they can use for the next couple of years. For garden and lawn soil testing, we will recommend a fertilizer that would be helpful for the nutrients the lawn is deficient in.Now that you know how important soil testing can be, and the pricing packages. I will give you a few tips on taking your soil test.
When taking a soil test, you want to ensure you are getting at least six to eight inches of soil. We do have probes and collect-n-go buckets that you may borrow. Depending on how large the area you are testing you will want to take multiple samples. Then mix it in a bucket and take at least a cup of soil out of that mixture to put in a bag. You want to ensure you have all debris out, like grass, sticks, plant matter, and just have it be the soil. Also, try to make sure the soil isn’t too wet, as this can alter the results of your test.
Now that you have all the information you need for a soil test, what are you waiting for? Ensure that this year, your lawn will be better than your neighbors’, your garden will be growing large, delicious vegetables and fruit, and your yield goals will be soaring through the sky.
Our office is located at 110 Cottage Street, Ashland. You can find more information on our website at www.ashlandswcd.com, call into our office at (419) 281-7645, or just stop by and say hello! We look forward to working with you and your soil needs!