{"id":5078,"date":"2020-04-27T17:28:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T21:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/?page_id=5078"},"modified":"2021-12-14T14:43:49","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T19:43:49","slug":"a-quick-reference-for-how-to-take-a-soil-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/a-quick-reference-for-how-to-take-a-soil-test\/","title":{"rendered":"A Quick Reference for How to Take a Soil Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5059 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2020\/04\/fresh-soil-2386786__340-360x200-1-300x167.jpg\" alt=\"handful of soil\" width=\"300\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2020\/04\/fresh-soil-2386786__340-360x200-1-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2020\/04\/fresh-soil-2386786__340-360x200-1-105x58.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2020\/04\/fresh-soil-2386786__340-360x200-1-317x176.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/somerset\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2020\/04\/fresh-soil-2386786__340-360x200-1.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/strong>What does a soil test from UMaine Extension do?<\/h3>\n<p>A soil test will tell you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nutrient levels in your soil<\/li>\n<li>Soil pH levels<\/li>\n<li>Presence of lead contamination, if any<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Why should I test my soil?<\/h3>\n<p>A soil test will help you to optimize your garden or lawn by providing the information you need to make your soil healthy for a given crop. Test results also provide recommendations for amendments.<\/p>\n<h3>When do I take a soil test?<\/h3>\n<p>Soil can be tested any time of year when the ground is not frozen. However, the results of your soil test are intended to provide recommendations for the following growing season. If you are testing your soil to grow a garden, then it is most useful to test soil in very early spring, immediately after thaw, or fall in order to allow time before the growing season begins. You can expect to receive test results in 2-4 weeks.<\/p>\n<h3>How do I take a soil test?<\/h3>\n<p>We supply soil test kits for free. They come with an order form, instructions, and a collapsible cardboard box to put your soil sample in. Be sure to read the instruction form carefully. Choose your \u201canalytical service\u201d and a 3-digit crop code so that you will receive the specific recommendations for your desired crop. We supply soil test kits for free. They come with an order form, instructions, and a collapsible cardboard box to put your soil sample in. Be sure to read the instruction form carefully. Choose your \u201canalytical service\u201d and a 3-digit crop code so that you will receive the specific recommendations for your desired crop.<\/p>\n<h3>Where do I get a soil test?<\/h3>\n<p>There are 2 ways to get a soil test:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">1. Visit our office at 7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976<br \/>\n2. Call our office at 207.474.9622 to request a test in the mail<\/p>\n<p>Mail soil tests to our <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/soiltestinglab\/\">soil lab in Orono<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Maine Soil Testing Service<br \/>\n5722 Deering Hall<br \/>\nOrono, ME 04469-5722<\/p>\n<p>Include payment for the amount listed for the service(s) you have chosen. In most cases the<br \/>\nstandard test for $18 is sufficient for the Home Gardener.<\/p>\n<h3>What if I don\u2019t understand my soil test results?<\/h3>\n<p>When you receive your soil test results, you can call our office 207.474.9622 for assistance with interpreting your results and recommendations.<\/p>\n<h3>Additional Resources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2286e\/\">Bulletin #2286 Testing Your Soil<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/soiltestinglab\/home\/whatsup\/\">What We Don\u2019t Do (And Who Does It)<\/a>: Pesticide and herbicide testing, drinking water, oil and gas, etc.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/soiltestinglab\/home\/faq\/\">Soil Test FAQ\u2019s<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does a soil test from UMaine 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 you need to make [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","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":""},"class_list":["post-5078","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Quick Reference for How to Take a Soil Test - Cooperative Extension in Somerset 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\/somerset\/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 Somerset County - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What does a soil test from UMaine 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? 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