- Sending a Soil Sample to a Lab<\/a>
- Tools and Materials<\/a><\/li>
- Step 1: Make a Map<\/a><\/li>
- Step 2: Clear Organic Matter<\/a><\/li>
- Step 3: Dig<\/a><\/li>
- Step 4: Take More Samples<\/a><\/li>
- Step 5: Prepare the Final Sample<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Testing With an At-Home Soil Testing Kit<\/a>
- Tools and Materials<\/a><\/li>
- Step 1: Collect Your Soil Samples<\/a><\/li>
- Step 2: Dry Your Soil<\/a><\/li>
- Step 3: Read the Instructions<\/a><\/li>
- Step 4: Fill the Test Tube<\/a><\/li>
- Step 5: Shake the Tube, Then Let it Settle<\/a><\/li>
- Step 6: Interpret the Results<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Sending to a Lab vs. Testing at Home<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Sending a Soil Sample to a Lab<\/h2>
![\"Soil](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> While it sounds straightforward, sending your soil to a lab for testing isn\u2019t as simple as digging up soil and shipping it in the mail. The soil has to be properly handled, and it can\u2019t be any ol\u2019 soil in your lawn.<\/strong> While the specifics of taking soil samples will vary from lab to lab, the general process is quite similar. <\/p>
Tools and Materials<\/h3>
- Plastic bucket:<\/strong> Galvanized buckets can contaminate the soil sample.<\/li>
- Shovel:<\/strong> Make sure it\u2019s clean and has no rust.<\/li>
- Hand trowel:<\/strong> Make sure it\u2019s clean and has no rust.<\/li>
- Plastic container or baggie:<\/strong> Prepare this if your lab didn\u2019t send you a container for the soil sample(s).<\/li>
- Newspaper<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>
Step 1: Make a Map<\/h3>
You\u2019ll need to collect about 10 to 15 samples from your lawn to mix into a final sample<\/strong> that accurately represents your lawn. <\/p>
You\u2019ll want to take samples in areas that are relatively the same in terms of an environment that\u2019s free from contaminants.<\/p>
Don\u2019t take soil samples from these places:<\/strong><\/p>
- Soil that\u2019s near a body of water.<\/li>
- Soil from your vegetable garden, flowers, and other ornamental plants.<\/li>
- Soil with fertilizer or chemical lawn products like pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.<\/li> <\/ul>
Take your samples in a way that makes you go through your lawn in a zigzag pattern<\/strong> to make sure you\u2019re taking soil throughout your lawn evenly.<\/p>
Step 2: Clear Organic Matter<\/h3>
Remove or set aside any thatch and growing or dead plants from your digging area. You don\u2019t want any organic matter in your soil sample.<\/p>
Step 3: Dig<\/h3>
Using your shovel, dig a hole about 6 inches deep.<\/strong> Usually, soil labs recommend taking a sample from the top 4-6 inches if you\u2019re sampling for a lawn. <\/p>
Dig straight down if you can. Cut a half-inch thick slice from the sides of the hole.<\/p>
If you see any organic matter or animal life \u2014 like more thatch or worms \u2014 remove them. <\/p>
Lastly, place the soil in your bucket.<\/p>
Step 4: Take More Samples<\/h3>
Repeat steps two and three for every dig site. You should end up with a generous amount of soil in your bucket.<\/p>
Step 5: Prepare the Final Sample<\/h3>
Use your trowel to mix up the dirt in the bucket<\/strong>, removing any rocks and crushing clumps until you have relatively smooth soil. <\/p>
Then, take 1 to 2 cups of soil and let it air dry on the newspaper.<\/strong> Make sure it doesn\u2019t get wet, as wet soil can skew the results.<\/p>
Once it\u2019s dry, place the soil in the plastic bag or container. This will be your final sample. Follow the lab\u2019s instructions to mail them in.<\/p>
For a visual demonstration, check out this video on how to collect a soil sample from the University of Arkansas:<\/p>
- Shovel:<\/strong> Make sure it\u2019s clean and has no rust.<\/li>
- Step 1: Collect Your Soil Samples<\/a><\/li>
- Step 1: Make a Map<\/a><\/li>
- Tools and Materials<\/a><\/li>