(above) President of The Rahway Garden Club, James Keane has been researching and answering garden questions since 1995. Visit ‘Keane Gardener’ blog at: keanegardener.blogspot.com
Whether your goal is a lush green lawn or a large harvest of vegetables, soil fertility testing is the place to start. It helps by determining a soil’s pH and need for lime and fertilizer.
The best time to take a soil sample is before spring fertilization or after harvest in the fall. Do not sample shortly after a lime, fertilizer, or manure application or when the soil is excessively wet. For lawns, late summer sampling will prepare you for fall fertilization.
The Rutgers Soils Laboratory uses state-ofthe- art instruments and methods of soil analysis. They suggest soil testing be repeated every 2– 3years.
WHY DOES SOIL PH MATTER?
Soil pH is a scale to measure how acidic or alkaline the soil is. Soil pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic and a pH above is alkaline.
Plants, vegetables and grass grow better, are healthier and produce more within their own pH range. The proper pH permits plants to absorb minerals from the soil. Evergreens require an acidic pH around 4.5 while tomatoes need a pH of 7.0.
By knowing the plant nutrition needs of your lawn and gardens, you can prevent the overapplication of fertilizers.
Soil test sampling kits are available for a fee of $20 from most of Rutgers Cooperative Extension offices at the Garden Helpline offices. In Union County that office is located at 300 North Ave East, Westfield, NJ, on the 2nd floor. You can also purchase soil test kits by mail. For more information contact the Garden Helpline at 908-654-9852.
Separate soil samples will need to be taken from areas used to grow different types of plants. For example, separate soil test kits should be used for lawn areas and vegetable garden areas. Samples from rhododendron, azalea, and other broad leaf evergreen areas should be kept separate from other shrub areas. Also sample separately areas that have previously received different lime or fertilizer treatments and areas that are noticeably different in plant or soil quality.
For a comprehensive list of Rutgers Cooperative Extension publications visit www.rce.rutgers.edu
HAPPY GARDENING,
James
First published March 2014, Our Town
(above) Information from Rutgers Fact Sheet # 797 Soil Testing.
