Prep
January, February, March, October, November
Send a soil test
Most lawn and garden problems that look like 'needs more food' are pH, compaction, or water. A lab test tells you whether lime, sulfur, or phosphorus would help — and whether nitrogen is the only thing you should spend money on.
Steps
- Take 6–8 cores from 3–4 inches deep in the lawn, and a separate bag for beds.
- Mix each group, air-dry, and mail to your extension lab.
- Read phosphorus and pH first. Do not add P if it is already high.
- Repeat every two or three years, or after you lime.
Tips
- Keep lawn and ornamental beds as separate samples.
- Note recent fertilizer so the lab is not reading last week's urea.
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