Q: I’ve heard it is good to have a soil test done before starting to garden in the spring. What is the purpose of a soil test and how would I do one? — A. H. Westhampton
A: Excellent question, A.H. In gardening, it’s all about the soil. Healthy soil promotes healthy plants which means a happy gardener. Just as you invest in a strong foundation for your house, you want to invest in your garden’s foundation which is healthy soil.
Truly understanding one’s soil composition is a big endeavor as soil can be complicated and there are multiple aspects to it, many of which get overly scientific for this column. That said, there are two helpful tests that can start you on your way to assessing your soil.
A basic pH test is a great place to start. This test measures a soil’s acidity. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A pH of 6.5 to 7 is optimal/neutral for most plants. Values below 7 are increasingly acidic. Values above 7 are increasingly alkaline. This value is helpful to know if you want to plant blueberry shrubs, for example, as they like more acidic soils where the pH is around 4.5 to 5.5. The Western MA Master Gardener Association offers this pH test service. Visit the events calendar at wmmga.org for upcoming dates.
A great resource we have right here in our backyard if you would like a complete soil analysis that tells you lime and nutrient recommendations, pH and more is the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory (ag.umass.edu/services/ soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory.) Here you can order a test specific to the category of plants you want to grow, such as home vegetable garden or flowers, roses and herbs. They tell you how to do everything from how to collect a soil sample to FAQs to how to submit a sample and more.
If you are interested in reading about soil and stories related to its health, you may enjoy “The Soil Will Save Us” by Kristin Ohlson. Another reading option is the interesting, uplifting book related to soil restoration based on true farmer stories entitled “Growing A Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life” by David Montgomery.
I hope this helps, A.H. Thank you for considering your soil and for asking a local Master Gardener.
Have a gardening dilemma? Please send questions, along with your name/initials and community, to the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association at AskAMasterGardener@wmmga.org. One question will be selected and answered per week. wmmga.org