Feature Story
Early Attention to Soil Fertility Will Save Time and Money in the Long Run by Bill Errickson, Agriculture Agent - Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County
Photo: NJAES
For landscape plants to reach their full potential, proper soil fertility is essential. Just as nutrition is key to human health, when soil nutrition is optimized, your plants will be healthier, more disease resistant and more stress tolerant. Focusing on soil fertility before establishing your plantings will save you time and money in the long run and will support plant performance that results in customer satisfaction. Soil Fertility Testing Before adding any fertilizers or liming materials to the soil, it is important to take a soil fertility test. This is the most accurate way to determine the nutritional needs of the soil, and testing is required to apply any fertilizers containing phosphorus to turfgrass. Soil samples are best taken in the fall or in the spring before fertilizer application. Soil testing should be repeated at least every 2 to 3 years, but testing every year is preferable when possible. Your results will also be most accurate if you sample at the same time each year. Testing the fertility levels in your soil early and often will allow you to supply the nutrition that is required for next level plant growth, before any deficiencies or other problems develop during the growing season. How to test your soil: Soil test kits can be obtained from your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension County Office or from the Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory. To take a soil sample, collect 10 to 15 cores randomly selected from the landscape where you are planning to fertilize. Place all the cores into a bucket and mix them together, being sure to break up any clods. Take approximately 2 cups of soil from the bucket and place it into the plastic bag that comes with the soil test kit. Fill out the questionnaire and mail the sample to the laboratory or drop it off at your county extension office. After the sample is analyzed, you will receive a soil test report with lime and fertilizer recommendations specific to the plants you plan to grow.
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Soil pH In addition to providing nutrient recommendations, your soil test report will include information about pH. Soil pH affects the availability of nutrients for plant uptake. While individual plant species have different optimum pH ranges, most plants in the landscape thrive in a slightly acidic to
Soil pH influences the availability of nutrients for plants. Wider bands indicate that nutrients are more available and narrow bands indicate that nutrients are less available at different pH levels. Chart: Purdue Extension
