Soil testing is the only accurate way to know if you should add nutrients to your lawn or garden.
Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening. Collecting soil samples only takes a few minutes and has many benefits — it can help you save money, result in healthier plants by telling you which nutrients are already in your soil, and protect water quality by preventing unnecessary fertilizer applications.
What Will Soil Testing Tell Me?
One of the most important things a soil test measures is soil pH — how acidic or basic your soil is. Soil pH in North Carolina ranges from about 3.5 (very acidic) to 8.0 (basic) or higher. Most ornamental plants, vegetables, fruits, and lawns prefer a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, though acid-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, and gardenias prefer a pH between 5.0 and 5.5.
Soil testing is the only way to know if your soil is too acidic, whether you need lime to raise pH, and if so how much. Soil test results will also tell you which nutrients to apply for the plants you are growing.
Soil test results will not determine whether there are diseases or herbicide residues in your soil, or if poor drainage or compaction are causing plant problems. If you suspect these issues, contact the Nash County Cooperative Extension office for advice.
When Should I Sample?
Soil samples can be submitted for testing any time of the year. Submit samples several months before you plan to plant to allow time for results and soil amendments.
Results are usually ready within a few weeks and are posted online. Winter and spring are the lab's busiest seasons — samples submitted during these times may take longer to process. Check current processing times before submitting.
Source : ncsu.edu