February is a busy time of year around the Extension office. Production meetings are being held, and lots of soil samples get dropped off at the office. People ask me what the first step to saving money in farming or gardening. The first step is to take your soil samples. Let’s talk about steps for taking successful soil samples.
The first step is to map out the field or garden spot, so samples can be named by zones, soil type drainage or yield potential. If you are sampling a field, then use a zig zag pattern. If you are sampling trees or shrubs, then take a soil sample from 6 or 8 places around the dripline of the plants.
How deep do I take a soil sample? Lawns, and pastures should be sampled to a depth of 4 inches. If you are sampling gardens, ornamentals, wildlife plots then sample to the depth of 6 inches. For pecans, a depth of 6 to 8 inches is recommended.
When should I take a soil sample? According to the UGA Soil Test Handbook, soil test levels will change during the year, depending on the temperature and moisture of the soil. It’s important to take samples at the same time each year so we can compare results from year to year. Generally, nutrient levels will be lower during summer and fall as compared to winter and spring. The best time to sample is one to six months prior to planting. The earlier the better if lime is needed, because lime requires several months to fully react and neutralize soil acidity. Fertilizer should be applied closer to the time the crop needs it, as recommended in the soil test report. In lawn and ornamental areas, soil samples can be taken every 2 to 3 years when fertility levels reach medium or high. Vegetable gardens should be sampled every 1 to 2 years.
What do I need to take a soil sample? Please use clean sampling tools and containers to avoid contaminating the soil sample. It is recommended to never use tools or containers that have been used for fertilizer or lime. You can collect soil samples with tools like trowels, shovels, spades, hand probes, or hand augers. Contact your local Extension office; sometimes they have a soil sample probe to lend out. Just be mindful to bring it back so another person can take their samples.
When you get your soil samples back, they will have soil fertility recommendations based on the planned crop. If you decide to change the crop to be planted in the area that the sample is from then a recommendation can be adjusted.
If you have questions about sampling, please contact your local county Extension agent.
