The Days Whittle Down – But There Is Soil to Test

  • Post published:12/01/2021
  • Post comments:4 Comments
Digging for soil test

Before the ground freezes I was determined to get my soil tested.  I think the result will be pretty good because we had to bring in 60 yards or more to create raised beds that would permit good planting spaces. As you all know, our yard/garden is a swamp when there is rain.  If we are  going to have a garden with lots of different plants we need to have good soil for raised beds.   Martin’s Farm (https://martinsfarmcompost.com/ was a dependable supplier of good soil and compost.After 6 years of working in the garden I decided it was time to find out how good our soil was and turned to the University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory. I downloaded a form that would tell me how to collect my soil, pack it, and send it to Umass.

I was instructed to dig down 6 inches to collect a cup of soil in 6 places around the garden. My spade and my hands had to be very clean. Digging was not easy because there are so many roots from my many shrubs and other plants.

Spade and metal bowl

I took samples from 6 spots as directed and made sure I took out any roots or other debris from the mixture. The soil then had to stay in the house where it  would dry. There was a form that I downloaded from the Soil Laboratory site and I filled that out. A cup of the dry soil mixture went into a clean plastic bag, then into a padded envelope, with the form. Off to the Post Office and I was done. Now I am waiting for a reply.

I decided to test the soil this fall because I know  that the Soil Laboratory really gets busy with requests in the spring. Here is a partial sample of the form:

UMass Soil & Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory
Paige Laboratory, Room 203
161 Holdsworth Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-2311
soiltest@umass.edu
http://soiltest.umass.edu

USE THIS FORM FOR ROUTINE SOIL ANALYSIS – HOME GROUNDS AND GARDENS Visit our website to download a copy of Sampling Instructions for Routine Soil Analysis, which includes a description of routine and optional soil tests
offered. Send your sample(s), completed submission form and payment to the address listed above. Enclose check payable to UMass for $20 for each sample
plus additional fees for optional tests requested below.
Main Contact Send Copy to Method of Receiving Results
US Mail (Please include
$2 per order for postage
& handling)
Email
Name: Name:
Business Name: Business Name:
Street Address: Street Address:
City, State, Zip City, State, Zip:
Phone: Phone:
Email Address: Email Address

Crop Codes for Home Grounds and Gardens To receive lime and nutrient recommendations on your test report, you must specify the appropriate Crop Code(s) on your soil sample submission
form. These recommendations are based on analytical results for your sample. Please select up to three Crop Codes that best describes your
management objectives from the list below.
Home Lawns – Recommendations given per 1,000 sq. ft.
Description Crop Code
Lawn-New Establishment…………………………………………………………. HA1
Lawn-Maintenance ………………………………………………………………………… HA2
Home Gardens, Trees and Shrubs – Recommendations given per 100 sq. ft.
Description Crop Code
Home Vegetable Garden…………………………………………………………… HB1
Home Vegetable Garden, Asparagus only………………………………………….. HB1A
Flowers, Roses, & Herbs…………………………………………………………… HB3E
Deciduous Trees, Shrubs & Vines-New Establishment…………………………… HC1E
Deciduous Trees, Shrubs & Vines-Maintenance………………………………….. HC1M

When I get the results I’ll be able to plan the work  schedule and collect more Martin’s Farm soil/compost!

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. @plantpostings

    Good for you! We’ll be curious to hear about the results. Most of our soil around here is very good silt/loam, but areas near the house and near rocks, etc., have different qualities. Each garden, and each little plot is unique, isn’t it? 🙂

  2. Pat

    I’ll be glad to see what I need, too. The raised beds all used the same soil and compost, so results of the test will show what the whole garden needs.
    Pat

  3. Robin Ruff Leja

    Soil testing seems almost mandatory when you start master gardener training. I found it mine is alkaline, which I knew. It’s still hard as a rock though! Digging for my soil test was a royal pain.

  4. Pat

    Robin – It really is amazing how differently soil can be found in different places – and how difficult enriching it can be. But we have to go ever onward.

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