Soil Sampling Instructions

Please Note

Lime and fertilizer recommendations based on improperly taken soil samples may result in misleading recommendations. Follow the instructions below to obtain a representative sample. Submit at least one cup of soil.

Where To Sample

1. Areas differing in appearance, slope, drainage, treatment or intended plant usage should be sampled and tested separately. Examples:

• The lawn should be sampled separately from the vegetable garden.
• The blueberry patch should be sampled separately from the lawn surrounding it.
• Areas under shade trees should be sampled separately from the lawn surrounding them.
• That portion of the vegetable garden recently limed should be sampled separately from that portion not limed.
• The upslope, dry part of the lawn should be sampled separately from the downslope, wet part of the lawn.
• Areas around shrubs should be sampled separately from the lawn.

1. Where poor growth exists, take samples from both good and bad areas, if possible, and submit them separately.

How To Sample

1. Using an auger, soil tube or spade, take uniform cores or thin slices of soil at the depth and number of evenly-distributed spots indicated in the following table:

Kind of Crop or Plant:	Number of Slices or Core of Soil  to Collect in Sampling Area	Sampling Depth
Lawns	10 or more at evenly distributed spots	top 3 to 4 inches
All others	10 or more at evenly distributed spots	top 6 to 8 inches

2. Put the slices or cores of soil in a clean container and thoroughly mix them. Transfer at least one cup of the soil mixture to a plastic bag or resealable container. If sending more than one sample, also label the outside of the bag or container. (If samples are excessively wet, dry them at room temperature before putting them in the plastic bags. Do not dry samples on a stove or radiator.)

Last updated:25 April 2001