Officials said early springtime and fall, right before and after growing seasons, are the most advantageous times to get soil tests. Landowners can bring in about three cups of their soil to their county’s extension office, which is then delivered to a state facility and tested for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Amanda Potter is the Rowan County Extension Agent. She said a proper balance of these nutrients encourages proper plant growth, whether the land is being used for farming, gardening, or as a front lawn. These diagnostics can help growers and extension agents identify proper next steps.
“It just gives us a little more information on some things that we can add. Because if you already have a good soil test, I’m probably not going to recommend applying a fertilizer because that’s kind of going to be wasting your money if the levels are already well within what they should be,” said Potter.
Potter added the results are typically still accurate despite recent flooding throughout central and eastern Kentucky.
“If you bring in a soil sample to us that’s still pretty wet, we actually will allow some dry time before we send it in,” said Potter. “And when it gets to UK’s lab, they actually take, I believe it’s two days to fully dry that sample out. Unless you have completely lost your topsoil.”
These soil tests cannot accurately measure nitrogen levels because they fluctuate by the day, Potter added, but they can identify the soil pH. The Rowan County Cooperative Extension Office recommends larger producers, like farmers, get a soil test at least once every year. Hobbyist gardeners and lawn growers should have their soil tested before they start growing, as well as if new problems arise during the growing season. Hopeful gardeners should also choose sunny, high ground and avoid heavy clay soil.
The Rowan County Extension Office is available by calling 606-784-5457 or online at rowan.ca.uky.edu.