Most gardeners know that success depends on many factors: You can’t grow a sun-loving plant in a shady area, for example. And a shrub that loves wet places won’t do well in dry soil. But the most ...

Before applying fertilizer or any other soil amendment, it's a good idea to see what the soil already contains. That way you ...

Is soil testing important? How can I get my soil tested? The first question is do you need a soil test? There are several situations where a soil test may be appropriate: 1. Landscaping a new home ...

To grow good plants, you need good soil. The only way to tell what your soil really needs is to take a soil test. Applying too much fertilizer could be detrimental to your plants. You could waste ...

Learn why soil pH is the most important soil test value and how it affects nutrient availability and lime requirements.

One of the most common questions gardeners have is how to fertilize specific plants. Many plants have individual nutrient needs, but for all plants it is impossible to guess at what you need without ...

Discover why you should test your soil in January, with insights from a garden expert. Get ahead of the growing season by ...

Agricultural soil testing can be used for many purposes, but the primary use is to determine whether lime and/or fertilizer is needed, and, if so, how much. The first step in soil testing is to ...

ST PAUL, Minn. — If you suspect that your soil is to blame for your yard's poor performance, all you need is a bag of it and a couple of dollars to get a detailed analysis from the University of ...

Soil is a key ingredient in any backyard garden, so it’s important to make sure it’s the healthiest it can be. That’s why longtime gardeners – and soil science experts – recommend testing. Knowing the ...

Anxious about the rueful state of his peas, radishes and onions, Rod Marquardt arrived at the University of Minnesota’s soil testing laboratory with two lunch bag-sized containers of dirt. “We’re just ...