Soil Testing

Madison Co. SWCD provides soil testing for the establishment and maintenance of lawns, gardens, and trees. Our tests provide information on the soil's nutrients, pH, and recommendations for care based on the information provided. The tests require about 16 ounces of soil and information on the location and plants present in the area. It is highly recommended to perform soil tests in the fall or spring before applying fertilizer to your lawn or garden. Results can take several weeks to receive during busy season.

For Lawns

This soil test provides information on the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels in the soil as well as the pH of the soil. The cost for this test is $20.

For Gardens

Along with the normal soil test we recommend testing the organic matter (OM) present in gardens. OM is important for several reasons but mainly it acts as a nutrient reservoir your plants can draw on. The cost for this test is $25.

Importance of Soil Organic Matter (SOM)

https://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Building-Soils-for-Better-Crops-3rd-Edition/Text-Version/Organic-Matter-What-It-Is-and-Why-It-s-So-Important/Why-Soil-Organic-Matter-Is-So-Important
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Fertilizing Lawns with Water Quality in Mind

https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/fertilizing-home-lawns-to-protect-water-quality

See the short video below for tips on collecting a soil sample

Note: Our office does not currently have a "T" probe for rent. If you want to bring the soil to our office in a container (paper/plastic bag, clean plastic container, etc.) we will place it in the bag for the lab and mail it.