The Best Time To Do A Soil Test

Every year I get asked about the best time to do a soil test. Before I answer, let me just say that if you’ve never done a soil test before, try it at least once. It’s not expensive, and the data that you get from the results is eye-opening. The best way I can explain it is it takes all the guesswork about buying fertilizer. You know exactly what you need and exactly what you need to avoid.

Now, the best time to test your soil is right before your first round of fertilizer for the year. I like to do it even before my pre-emergent application. Take a few samples from around your yard, send it off to the lab, and await your results. Then you have the info you need to develop a plan for the year.

If you need help analyzing your results and putting a plan together, I can help.

The last thing I want to mention is you don’t necessarily need to test your soil every year.

Sometimes, it can take a while to make substantial changes in your nutrient levels. Test as often as you like, but know that every 2-3 years is sufficient for most, even for that peace of mind to check in and make sure what you’ve been doing is making a difference, but the results you see when you look at your lawn should also be a good indicator!