How to Test the Soil in Sacramento, California
An important step to creating or maintaining a home garden or lawn space in Sacramento, California is having the soil tested. The soil collection process is a quick process, which results in determining the soil pH and composition. Soil tests also include recommendations for amendments and fertilizer based on the type of plants growing in the area. Have a soil test completed in early fall once the growing season is finished. Choose collection areas where the soil is not excessively wet or underneath trees as this may skew the composition results. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Contact the Sacramento County University Extension office to obtain a list of USDA approved soil-testing locations in Sacramento County. Request a soil test kit that includes a soil collection bag.
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Clean a shovel and trowel with a disinfecting solution made from nine parts water and one part bleach. Allow the shovel to dry prior to using.
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Survey the collection area and select 10 locations to collect samples. Collect the samples in a zig zag pattern to get a good soil representation of the area. Submit separate samples for lawn areas and garden areas as the soil and nutrient values will vary.
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Dig a soil sample from each of the 10 locations by scraping the top 2 inches of soil away and removing 1 cup of soil from a 3-inch deep hole. Pour each of the 10 soil samples into a clean bucket.
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Remove all organic matter and rocks from the collected soil. Mix the 10 samples together in the bucket to get an average representative of the area. Measure out two cups of soil from the bucket and place it in the collection bag.
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Fill out any required paperwork included with the soil sample kit, making sure to note if the soil is from a lawn or garden area. Mail the soil sample and paperwork to the testing location listed with the paperwork.
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References
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