A soil test is an important, but often overlooked step in planning and implementing a landscape design. It is often skipped, mostly due to poor planning or a lack of understanding why it is so essential to the long term success of your landscape renovation.
Performing a soil test requires minimal effort. Simply put, you collect a small amount of soil throughout the area you intend to plant, bring the sample to your local Extension office and in about a week’s time you get a detailed report of amendments needed for your soil before you plant. Soil tests can be conducted for a variety of planting needs: lawn, vegetables, trees or shrubs.
Success or failure of your landscape can depend on soil health. Soil provides anchorage for roots and holds water or nutrients. Soils are home to myriad micro-organisms that fix nitrogen and decompose organic matter. It’s also home to armies of microscopic organisms as well as beneficial earthworms. Soil is a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystem. Soil testing provides vital information about the nutritional contents of your soil. Results from a soil test can help to correct your soil’s PH, and determine the correct amount and kind of fertilizer your landscape may need.
For example, Blueberries grow best at a PH of 4.5-5.5, while vegetables grow best at a PH of 6.0-7.0. A “One Size Fits All,” approach to fertilizer is not ideal. It can often do more harm than good by raising your PH needlessly, under fertilizing or over fertilizing. Over-fertilization introduces excess salts to soils, which diminishes the plant’s ability to take up water. This can cause drought stress even when water is readily available. This will lead to root damage, cause leaves to wilt, and possible plant death. There is an additional, environmental impact to over fertilization as well. Excess fertilizer can runoff into streams and lakes causing toxic algal blooms that are harmful to aquatic life, people and pets.
Soil testing can be done through your county extension office. Fees vary from county to county, and covers the shipping to the University of Georgia Soil, Plant and Water Lab. It takes about a week to receive your soil test results. Your report will also include any recommendations for amendments to make before you plant. An Extension office representative can walk you through your results if you need further clarification. This test can save you hundreds of dollars in fertilizer, soil amendments and the cost of lost plants and lawns in your future. Not to mention, saving you from the frustration and disappointment when your landscape isn’t looking the best it could! There is nothing more satisfying than having a healthy, lush lawn and a beautiful landscape.
The author of this article, Carolyn Bruce, is a Paulding UGA Extension Master Gardener. Master Gardeners are trained to provide education for homeowners on horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices using unbiased, research-based information from the University of Georgia.
Follow the link below to a University of Georgia Extension publication, detailing how to collect a soil sample from your yard or garden.
Next week in part 4 of our Landscape Design series we will discuss budget and planning your landscape.
