How Soil Tests are Helpful
Tom Ingram: Ask a Master Gardener
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Q: I wasn’t happy with
how my yard looked last year or how my vegetables grew. How much and what kind
of fertilizer should I use this year? DJ
A: This
is a question we get quite often. The reality is that the question, while
well-intentioned, is like me calling you on the phone and asking you how much
gas I should put in my car. Your first response would be, “Well how much gas do
you have in your tank now and where are you going?” To answer your question, I
could look at the fuel gauge and tell you I have half a tank and I just plan on
running some errands. In response you could say, “Well you don’t really need
gas right now, but you better fill it up at the first of the week.”
It is the same way with soil.
When someone asks how much and what kind of fertilizer they should use, we need
to ask some questions. Or in this case, we need to take a soil test, which is
similar to looking at the gauge to see how much fuel we have.
To perform a soil test, you
will need something to collect your samples with and a bucket: a trowel or a
bulb planter work well. We recommend you get between 15 to 20 samples of soil
from locations scattered throughout your yard. Each individual sample does not
need to be large, but you should dig to a depth of about 6 inches.
Once you have your samples in
a bucket, mix them up and remove any sticks or debris. From this mixture of
soil, bring a representative sample to the OSU Extension office. We will only
need about a sandwich bag-sized amount of soil for your test.
When we receive your soil
sample, we will send it to the Soil Science Lab at Oklahoma State University
for analysis, and within 2 weeks, you should receive the results. Your results
will contain the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in your
soil, along with the pH level. Included will be a recommendation on the
nutrients you need to add and how much, along with recommendations on perhaps
the nutrients you need to stop adding. Not only is over-application detrimental
to your growing environment, but it is also a waste of money.
The test costs $10, but likely,
it will be the best $10 you have ever spent on your lawn or garden. If you want
to test a smaller garden or flower bed, this will require a separate test as
those environments would be unique from your lawn. The same instructions would
apply. So grab a bucket and let’s find out what your soil really needs.
Garden tips
- Early February through March is
the recommended time to plant strawberries. It is important to plant them
in full sun and in well-drained soil. There are several types to choose
from. June-bearing varieties do best in our area. They have a single crop
usually early May to mid-June. Ever-bearing strawberry is another variety
which fruits May to June, a few during summer and again in the fall. The
quality and size of this type of strawberry plant may not be as good as
June-bearing varieties. For full information about plant selection and
growing tips, visit the “Hot Topics” page of our website.
- Mid-February is a good time to
begin pruning and fertilizing trees and small fruits.
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