You’ve heard us say it again and again because it remains true through every season: healthy soil is essential for healthy grass.
Whether you’re laying new sod or planting seed, we always recommend conducting a soil test before spreading fertilizer or balancing the pH in your soil.
We recommend testing soil once a year, before you give your existing grass a dose of nutrients.
Once you get the soil test report, you may be surprised to find your soil is deficient in just a few nutrients or that your pH is fine and you don’t need lime. Our different grasses have different nutrient and pH requirements; a soil test gives you the feedback you need before purchasing soil amendments that may be unnecessary.
Watch our video and read the following details on how to take soil samples and conduct a soil test so you’ll be able to get the feedback you need.
Tools for a Soil Sample
You’ll only need a few simple tools to gather soil samples for your soil test.
- Clean garden trowel, shovel, or soil probe. Be sure to clean your sampling tool before taking samples because fertilizer or soil residue could give inaccurate results.
- Plastic container, bowl, or bucket (metal can skew your test results as well).
- A ruler or tape measure to measure hole depth.
- Marker or pen for labeling your sample bags
- Paper or Plastic Bag from Soil Testing Service. You’ll need this to send your soil off for testing.
If you're a Lawn Coach customer, you will be sent all these tools except for the plastic container.
Where to Take a Soil Sample for a Soil Test
Your lawn is diverse and likely doesn’t have the same chemistry across the board. Identify areas with similar characteristics and take soil samples from each of these areas.
Some examples are:
- Main lawn area
- Shady areas near big trees
- Right side of front yard, left side of back yard, etc.
- Areas where you’ve had grass problems in the past
Take soil samples from different areas to get the best soil test results. Clearly label your bags and note where each soil sample came from so you can match the area with the soil test report.
How to Take a Soil Sample for a Soil Test
Let’s begin taking a soil sample! The video shows you how to take a soil sample and here are the written steps:
- Using your clean garden trowel or shovel, dig a small hole 4 inches deep. If you’re using a soil probe, insert it at least 4” deep. Sometimes it makes it easier to dig into hard, clay soil if you moisten it the day before.
- Remove the top layer of grass, thatch, and roots. Scrape the edge of the hole with your trowel and scoop the loose soil into your plastic container.
- Remove any grass blades, roots, or any other organic material from your container.
- Working in a zig-zag pattern, repeat this process 6-10 times per area you wish to be sampled. The more samples you take, the more accurate representation of the area will be given.
- Once you’re finished sampling the area mix the soil in your container. Mixing the samples from each hole will give an accurate representation of the whole area. This is called your composite sample.
- If your soil sample is damp, leave it in the container to air dry.
- Label your soil sample bag or bag of your own with your name, address, lawn type, and sampled area (i.e. front lawn, back yard, right side, left side, etc.)
- Fill your bag with dry soil to the recommended fill line. If you’re using your own bag, fill it with approximately 2 cups of soil.
- Package up your bags of soil and send them off to the lab for soil testing.
Repeat this process if you sampled more than one area and be sure to label them differently. If you have more than one area to sample, rinse your container and trowel between areas to remove residue that might skew soil test results.
Where to Send Your Soil Sample to be Tested
We like Waters Agricultural Labs, and if you give them a call they’ll mail you a testing kit that includes bags.
If you would prefer an option that’s closer to home, your local cooperative extension service will provide soil test bags. If you don’t want to make a special trip to pick up a testing bag, you can always switch to their official testing bags once you get to the office.
The Lawn Coach team can help make this part hassle free. Each Welcome Kit includes an envelope with pre-paid postage. All you’ll need to do is place your sample and in the envelope and mail it off. Lawn Coach will receive the lab test results and give you expert direction on any soil adjustments that need to be made.
When to Take a Soil Sample to a Soil Test
Soil samples can be done any time of the year. It is recommended that lawn soils be tested once a year.
For established lawns, it’s best to test the soil in late summer or fall. Some soil amendments like lime can take a few months to increase soil pH. Testing the soil in the fall will provide plenty of time to receive results, make amendment applications, and have your soil ready for spring green up. If you’re planning to lay sod or plant seed, take a soil sample a few months before to allow time for the amendments to do their job.
The Results Are In
Receiving your results from the lab may take a few weeks, depending on the time of year.
If you want to begin understanding the results and what kind of soil amendments you may need, educate yourself with our lawn maintenance guides and the guide to calculating fertilizer rates.
At your local Super-Sod we have the soil amendments you may need such as fertilizer, lime, and even organic compost for your lawn health.
Revised by Caleb Cunard, Lawn Coach, 2024.
