Soil Testing Made Easy

Steve Bridges

Kimas Tejas Nursery

When is the last time you took a test? All that studying and the worry about whether you were going to pass or not. You had to be sure that you had all your bases covered. The memorizing, the understanding of the basic concepts. If you were ill prepared, you would most likely not do well. Well, it may be time to take another test. Just like the tests of old, you want to be sure that you have all the basics down, that you understand the more abstract concepts, and that you know what you need to do to pass the test. Only this time the test will tell you how to be a better gardener! We could all use a little help with that!

A simple soil test can help any gardening situation. You may be experiencing problems with your lawn or garden. Maybe you simply want to know how to fertilize properly. The soil test will tell you where your soil stands on things such as N-P-K levels, the humus content, and pH levels, among other things. It can actually save you time and money by telling you what you need to know to do it right the first time. All you have to do is dig a few holes, bag some soil, and ship it off to the testers. They will grade your soil, telling you where it is deficient and what you can do to make it better. By making the conditions right the first time, you avoid problems down the road that may require additional time and money to correct.

The best testing lab in our state is Texas Plant and Soil Lab in Edinburg. They have been helping farmers and gardeners build better soil since 1938. They do a variety of tests, but the one that you will want is called the Standard Topsoil Analysis. For $25.95 they will tell you exactly what you need to do to build your soil to grow healthier plants. And all their recommendations use organic soil amendments to correct for problems.

For your money, they give you a Lab Soil Analysis Report that is a table of both available and 'locked up' nutrients. This is where their test differs from other tests. The test, for example, from Texas A&M gives you one number for each specific nutrient. This is a problem because you may have, for instance, all the calcium or potassium you need for strong plant growth, but without knowing if it is available or tied up in the soil you will not know how to proceed properly with a fertilizing program. A key is supplied with the numbers for easy understanding of what they mean.

They also provide you with two sections, one labeled 'Recommendations' and one called 'Interpretations'. Here you will find easily understood, expert advice on how to properly amend your soils to make your gardening efforts more successful. They analyze all the major and minor nutrients and their relationships to each other. They don't make name brand recommendations. But they do give application rates and generic recommendations for things such as sulfur, phosphorus, or magnesium. Your favorite organic nursery can help you with identifying which brands contain the amendments your soil needs.

A soil test is simple to take. In the area to be tested, dig five or six holes with a shovel about a foot deep. Then take a hand trowel and scrape down the side of each hole from top to bottom. Mix the soils from each of the holes. Fill a sandwich baggy about half full with this mix. This is what you will send to the lab. Make some notes for the lab on how this area has been used, any problems, and what you will be using this area for in the future. Be sure and list any fertilizers, chemicals, or any other additions you have made to the area. Send it off and you should receive your analysis in 5-6 working days. Their address is Texas Plant and Soil Lab, 5115 W. Monte Christo, Edinburg, TX 78539. For a complete description on how to take a soil test or to download their forms, you can find them on the web at www.txplant-soillab.com.