How often should I test my soil?

Here at AgriTech Corp., we recommend that home owners, gardeners, and gound managers conduct a professional, scientific, lab-based test of their soil annually -- once per year. This should be done before application of fertilizers and soil amendments, either in the fall or early spring. 

Why every year? A helpful analogy is routine testing in your personal health regimen. You would not take a cholesterol drug without having a blood test to indicate you needed that medication. The same is true with your soil health. You should not use a lime treatment on your soil until you have done a professional test to confirm your pH needs adjustment. Keeping your soil test up-to-date is the only way to ensure proper application of nutrients in line with evidence-based treatment recommendations. We recommend annual soil testing for highly managed lawns and gardens because multiple nitrogen applications during a growing season can change pH balance and the availability of micronutrients. Having a recent soil test on file is especially important for the following situations: growing vegetables, managing sandy soils, establishing new turf, making a major change/correction (i.e. soil pH or nutrient deficiency), or diagnosing problems your plants are experiencing. 

pH analysis of soil samples at SoilKit's partner lab. Click here to watch the whole video!

SoilKit gives home owners, gardeners, and landscape operators a professional soil analysis along with scientific recommendations to correct nutrient deficiencies in the soil. These nutrient recommendations are based on the soil’s deficiencies and grass or crop type. If soil test results come in year after year with similar results and recommendations, reflecting a stable soil environment and predictable plant productivity, that's when a 2-4 year gap might be acceptable between tests. Skipping an anual soil test most commonly becomes a safe option for clay soils and healthy, established lawns. Still, the only reliable way to know current soil conditions is regular soil testing each year, or even seasonal testing for high-value crops.

SoilKit tests for two macronutrients (phosphorus and potassium), pH, seven micronutrients, and more -- click here for a complete list. SoilKit does not test for nitrogen which is an unstable element in the soil because test results can vary greatly from the time of testing to processing in the lab. (Learn more about SoilKit nitrogen recommendations here.) SoilKit recommendations all work together in concert to meet the needs of growing plants from grass to trees and everything in between--all while ensuring you don't spend money on products you don't need. Nitrogen fosters lush growth and green color. Phosphorus aides bloom development and plant productivity while potassium develops healthy cells that promote disease and insect resistance. A high or low pH factor can cause nutrient “lockups” in the soil, and balanced minor elements promote root growth and efficient up-take of moisture and nitrogen into the plant. 

Over-application of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, causes substantial problems in the environment. Runoff washes away excess nutrients into surface waters, streams, and bays, where the surplus nutrients contaminate water sources and supercharge algae growth. In turn, this leads to oxygen-depleted "dead zones" and feeds red tide organisms. Proper soil testing and exact scientific recommendations save homeowners from the pitfall that “more is better” when good science tells us that, indeed, it is not. Plus, precise application saves homeowners money.

To sum up, we advise annual soil sampling and testing-based nutrient recommendations to guarantee the following:

• Application of the right nutrients and amendments
• Application of the right amount of those nutrients and amendments
• Application of the above at the right time.

REMEMBER, HEALTHY SOIL GROWS HEALTHY LAWNS AND GARDENS!