Yes, you definitely need a Soil Test!
Let’s start with the basics to set you up for success. A soil test is a must as you plant the garden of your dreams.
If you are confused right now because you garden but have never tested your soil, you aren’t alone.
I was like you for a long time. We think that if you buy the high quality garden soil, it should be good to go, right? Unfortunately, even with compost in the soil, there is no guarantee that there are enough key nutrients for growing plants. It's ideal to test the soil as soon as you start a garden, or as your begin the next growing season.
New soil does not equal healthy soil
Ordering soil, particularly a garden mix, gives you a healthy composition of coarse sand, topsoil, and compost. This is key for good drainage and aeration, but not an indicator for fertility. Nutrients often leach from bare soil from rainfall, and if you don’t know where your soil is from, it could be sitting out in the elements for ages.
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Soil Testing
At the start of this year, I topped off my raised beds with 3 inches of new soil, right after delivery. When I tested it a few days later, the results were tragic. The 3 main nutrients needed for healthy leaves, roots, and fruit weren’t just deficient, but depleted.
Basic soil tests tell you the pH and the levels of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous in your dirt. These are crucial for growing anything! Some plants, like blueberries and hydrangeas, prefer more acidic soil. The exciting, sexy vegetables that everyone loves, like tomatoes and peppers, require more potassium than others to ensure it produces beyond leaves.
What do I do after my soil test?
Depending on the results, you have a clear path of prepping your garden for success. One way to add these nutrients through organic fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers offer instant help, which is ideal if your soil is completely depleted. Granulated fertilizers break down over time, giving a steady, constant feeding to the soil. You can use these together if things are rough, but be sure to not overfertilize. It can be as unhealthy for plants as having no nutrients! There are also fertilizers that focus more on one nutrient if there is an imbalance in your test.
How to keep things natural
If you want to keep your methods as natural as possible, add compost! In fact, I recommend doing this at the start of each season to help with soil structure, aeration, insulation, and giving soil a shot of everything it needs.
Beyond that, follow my method of intensive planting that naturally gives the dirt everything it needs through a variety of plants. There are heavy feeders that need lots of nutrients, while beans are nitrogen fixers. They make the perfect pair, and are easy to plant together with my plans.
How to get started
Soil test kits can be found an any garden center and countless places online! They range from simple lab kits, instant-read probes, or you can contact your local extension office for affordable testing. The cheaper ones will cover the nitrogran, phosphorus, and potassium, while the pricier looks at a whole range of over a dozen nutrients.