When is the best time to take soil samples of my landscape? ASK THE HORT AGENT
Question When is the best time to take soil samples of my landscape?
Answer There’s no time like the present. There are two reasons why this is the prime soil sampling time. First, the farmers are still picking cotton, soybeans, peanuts and sweet potatoes. They won't get around to taking their soil samples until late November or December. This is important because they tend a lot of land. Therefore, they take a lot of soil samples. The soil testing lab gets bogged down every year when the farm samples hit. In the winter, it may take 6 to 8 weeks to get your soil test results. If you send them in now, you may have results back within 2 weeks.
Second, most soils in NC need lime every 2 years or so. If your soil test shows a low pH, then you will need to add lime to raise the pH. It takes lime 6 months to raise the pH to its fullest extent. If you add lime to your vegetable garden in the spring, then your tomatoes and other summer veggies won't really benefit from the lime. Instead, your collards and fall crops will. In other words, November and December are the best times to add lime for spring and summer crops and/or plants.
To take soil samples, identify different areas of your yard or garden (front yard, back yard, flower garden, tomato garden, rose garden, etc...). Take 5 or 6 sub-samples (approximately 2 tablespoons per sub-sample) from each identified area and add them together to make a sample from each area. This process will make the sample more representative of each designated area. The total volume for each sample should be about a cup of soil.
The samples can be transported to our office in sandwich bags. At our office, the samples will be transferred into the cardboard boxes and prepared for shipment to the lab.
North Carolina residents are very fortunate to have a progressive Department of Agriculture. This department actually provides the soil testing services. North Carolina is one of only a couple states which provides a soil testing service to its residents for free. Taking advantage of this service is surely the logical thing to do.
For more info, visit this website http://www.ncagr.com/agronomi/samhome.htm
If you do not have access to the internet, then call the Extension Office at 893-7533, write us at PO Box 1089, Lillington, NC 27546, or email me at gpierce@harnett.org
Lastly, taking a soil sample anytime of year is better than never taking one. Remember, its soil and not dirt. Soil is where plants grow and dirt is under your fingernails, in your carpet and in the tread of your shoes. The difference between soil and dirt is location, location, location.
Gary L. Pierce
Horticulture Extension Agent
Harnett County | 
