When and How Often to Sample

When is the best time to take soil samples? Take a soil sample a few months before embarking upon any new garden work - starting a vegetable garden, putting in a flower bed, or planting perennials. Sampling well in advance of planting will allow time for applied soil amendments to begin making the desired adjustments in soil pH or nutrient levels.

Sample established areas - lawns, trees, shrubbery, and other perennials - at any time of year; however, an ideal time to take samples is when the garden season has ended in the late summer to early fall. Sampling in the fall allows time for corrective pH and nutrient management before new growth starts in the spring. Fall sampling also avoids a sometimes busy spring period at the Soil Testing Laboratory, thus avoiding delays in getting your soil test results.

If an established area shows abnormal growth or plant discoloration, take a soil sample right away. For areas recently limed or fertilized, delay sampling at least six to eight weeks, otherwise your sample will not reflect the changes you are making.

A soil sample is a composite of numerous sub-samples, so a soil that is too wet will be impossible to mix together. As a rule, if the soil is too wet to work, it is too wet to sample. Another way to judge is to squeeze soil into a ball. If it easily breaks apart, then the soil can be sampled.

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Before we go on, let's see what you learned about when to take a soil sample!

Select the true statement about when and how often to test your soil.

When establishing a new planting area, soil samples should be taken after, not before, the plants are well established.
Soil samples for established plantings should only be taken before new growth in the spring.
Landscape areas should be soil tested approximately every two to four years.
Soil sampling immediately after applying fertilizer will give the most accurate soil test.

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