{"id":1893,"date":"2010-09-24T16:10:13","date_gmt":"2010-09-24T20:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/cumberland\/?page_id=1893"},"modified":"2025-03-11T08:27:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T12:27:04","slug":"soil-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/cumberland\/horticulture\/soil-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Need to test your soil? Here’s how."},"content":{"rendered":"

All you need to test your soil\u00a0is a soil test kit available at any University of Maine Cooperative Extension office<\/a>. Here in Cumberland County, you can pick up a free\u00a0kit at the Extension office at 75 Clearwater Drive, Falmouth<\/a>. If you are unable come and\u00a0pick one up, one can be mailed to you; order here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The kit includes a box for your soil sample, a form that must be filled out to tell the lab in Orono what you want to grow on the tested soil, and our bulletin #2286, Testing Your Soil<\/a><\/em>. Go out to your lawn or garden armed with a shovel, trowel or a soil sampling tool, and a clean bucket. You will want to take a minimum of 10 cores or soil slices per area sampled. Take them down to a depth of about 8 inches. Mix the soil well in the bucket, and fill the box with soil. You do not have to dry the sample.<\/p>\n

The sample needs to be sent to the University of Maine Soil Testing Service in Orono. The cost for a Standard Soil Test is $20 per sample. See the complete list of services and prices<\/a> on the Maine Soil Testing Service’s website.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit the UMaine soil testing lab<\/a> website or watch our informational video.<\/p>\n