{"id":33825,"date":"2019-06-10T13:51:59","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T17:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/cumberland\/?p=33825"},"modified":"2020-01-09T12:20:12","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T17:20:12","slug":"a-quick-reference-for-how-to-take-a-soil-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/cumberland\/2019\/06\/10\/a-quick-reference-for-how-to-take-a-soil-test\/","title":{"rendered":"A Quick Reference For How To Take A Soil Test"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

What does a soil test from the Cooperative Extension do?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A soil test will tell you:
\n-Nutrient levels in your soil
\n– Soil pH levels
\n– Presence of lead contamination, if any<\/p>\n

\n

Why should I test my soil?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A soil test will help you to optimize your garden or lawn by providing the information you need to make
\nyour soil healthy for a given crop. Test results also provide recommendations for amendments.<\/p>\n

\n

When do I take a soil test?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Soil can be tested any time of year when the ground is not frozen. However, the results of your soil test are
\nintended to provide recommendations for the following growing season. If you are testing your soil to grow
\na garden, then it is most useful to test soil in very early spring, immediately after thaw, or fall in order to
\nallow time before the growing season begins. You can expect to receive test results in 2-4 weeks.<\/p>\n

\n

How do I take a soil test?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We supply soil test kits for free. They come with an order form, instructions, and a collapsible cardboard
\nbox to put your soil sample in. Be sure to read the instruction form carefully. Choose your \u201canalytical
\nservice” and a 3-digit crop code so that you will receive the specific recommendations for your desired
\ncrop.<\/p>\n

\n

Where do I get a soil test?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There are 3 ways to get a soil test:<\/p>\n

1. Visit our office at: 75 Clearwater Drive, Falmouth, ME 04105
\n2. Call our office at 207-781-6099 to request it in the mail
\n3. Use our online form to order a soil test<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

How do I mail a soil test?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mail soil tests to our soil lab in Orono:
\nMaine Soil Testing Service
\n5722 Deering Hall
\nOrono, ME 04469-5722<\/p>\n

Include payment for the amount listed for the service(s) you have chosen. In most cases the
\nstandard test, $18 is sufficient for the Home Gardener.<\/p>\n

\n

What if I don’t understand my soil test results?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

When you receive your soil test results, you can call our office 207-781-6099 for assistance with interpreting your results and recommendations.<\/p>\n

Additional resources FMI:
\nBulletin #2286 Testing Your Soil<\/a>
\nWhat We Don\u2019t Do (And Who Does It)<\/a> – (Pesticide and herbicide testing, drinking water, oil and gas, etc.)
\nSoil Test FAQ\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  What does a soil test from the Cooperative Extension do? A soil test will tell you: -Nutrient levels in your soil – Soil pH levels – Presence of lead contamination, if any Why should I test my soil? A soil test will help you to optimize your garden or lawn by providing the information […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":33827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,6],"tags":[790,788,789,608,787],"class_list":["post-33825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture","category-horticulture","tag-how-to","tag-soil-test-kit","tag-soil-test-results","tag-soil-testing","tag-test-soil"],"yoast_head":"\nA Quick Reference For How To Take A Soil Test - Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/cumberland\/2019\/06\/10\/a-quick-reference-for-how-to-take-a-soil-test\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Quick Reference For How To Take A Soil Test - Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"  What does a soil test from the Cooperative Extension do? 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