In
order to have good, healthy, productive plants; you must start with fertile,
healthy soil. Good soil retains water, releases nutrients and drains well.
It must contain adequate nutrients, optimum pH and organic matter to be healthy
and fertile.In
order to have good, healthy, productive plants; you must start with fertile,
healthy soil. Good soil retains water, releases nutrients and drains well.
It must contain adequate nutrients, optimum pH and organic matter to be healthy
and fertile.
Guessing about additives for your lawn or garden usually means too little or too much fertilizer gets added. Too little fertilizer may result in unhealthy plants. Too much is wasteful and can threaten our lakes and wetlands. Also, soils vary within the state, your neighborhood, and even your yard. What may be good for you neighbor or brother’s lawn or garden may not be right for yours.
Don’t guess or take someone else’s recommendations. Find out what your soil needs. Take a soil test.
A soil test will tell
you what nutrients your plants or lawn need and will recommend the amount of
fertilizer (N-P-K) to add to your soil. The N stands for nitrogen.
Nitrogen encourages fast, green growth. The P stands for phosphorus.
Phosphorus stimulates root development, rapid growth, and quality flowers.
The K stands for potassium and promotes disease resistance, strong stems,
and winter hardiness.
A soil
test will also tell the current pH of your soil. Soil pH is a
measure of soil acidity. Nutrient availability is influenced by the pH of
the soil. Plants need an optimum pH to grow and be productive.
Acidic soils have a pH lower than 7.0. Neutral soils have a pH of 7.0. And
soils with a pH above 7.0 are called alkaline. 
Most plants will grow
adequately up to a soil pH of 7.5. Some plants, such as blueberries and azaleas,
love acidic soil while other plants, such as tomatoes and carrots, prefer
alkaline soils.
The results of the soil test also include an analysis of the amount of organic matter in your soil. The amount of organic matter is important because the more organic matter you have in your soil, the better the water holding capacity, drainage, and tilth of your soil. To increase the organic matter level in you soil; you can add materials such as manure, compost, or peat moss.
You can take soil
samples any time the ground isn’t frozen. You should get your soil
tested by any state certified soil-testing facility. For your convenience,
you can get your soil tested through your county UW Extension office which uses
the UW Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory in Madison. The following
information should be taken into consideration when taking a soil sample to be
used for a soil test:
Soil should be tested before applying any fertilizers.
Always test different types of areas separately. The plants in each area have different nutrient needs. General types of areas considered for soil testing are: lawn, vegetable garden, flower garden, fruit, tree, shrub, and mixed bed.
Combine small amounts of soil from at least four locations in each area to be tested so you get a representative sampling of the area you want analyzed. For larger areas or gardens, take samples from at least eight locations.
For each area you want tested, you need to submit two cups of air-dried soil. Samples should contain soil from the surface to 6 inches deep and each sample should be placed in a separate bag and labeled.
There is a fee for each sample. Results are mailed to you usually within two weeks.
Call your county UW Extension office for more information on soil testing.
– Ann Wied, University of Wisconsin – Extension, Waukesha County
