Soil Testing
Stop into our office to pick up a kit that includes information about how to collect and send your soil sample in to be tested. You would work directly with AgSource to get results. For help interpreting lawn & garden samples, contact Kaitlin Bricco, Horticulture Educator at Kaitlin.Bricco@outagamie.org, for field samples contact Kevin Jarek, Crops and Soils Educator at Kevin.Jarek@wisc.edu.
Basic samples will be analyzed for pH, organic matter, available phosphorous (P) and available potassium (K); it will also provide a fertilizer recommendation. Additional micronutrient testing is available as well.
Examples of tests offered:
- Field Sample
- Lawn and Garden
- Wildlife Food Plot
Testing is also available through the UW Soils Lab.
Download the instructions for how to take a soil sample in the link below.
Instructions for sampling Garden Soils and Turf pdf
Instructions on how to take a soil sample:
- Take at least 10 soil cores and mix them together thoroughly.
- Soil cores should be taken to the same depth that the roots grow. This means 5 to 7 inches for most gardens and turfgrass areas. For golf course putting greens and tees, 4 inches is more appropriate.
- Place 1 to 2 cups of the well-mixed soil in a clean plastic bag or a soil testing bag from your county Extension office. Send your sample, along with the appropriate form to the desired lab.
Soil probes are available for a rental fee. (The fee can be applied to the cost of having your soil sample processed.) Payment can be made by credit card, cash or check.
