Soil testing is the process of analyzing a sample of soil to determine how many nutrients it contains and what its pH level is. If you own a property in New Jersey, you may be wondering if soil testing is worth the time and effort it takes to undergo. And for those who can’t stand the suspense, the short answer is yes! Soil testing is absolutely worth the time and effort it takes because it can help you improve the health of your lawn. You should have your soil tested in certain situations like before you fertilize your lawn or add a lime treatment to it. If you don't test your soil, you could end up paying the price because you could apply a lime treatment when you don't need it or even add the wrong amount of nutrients to your lawn while fertilizing it.

What is soil testing and what does it tell you?

Soil testing is the process of analyzing a sample of soil to determine its nutrient and chemical content, pH level, and other characteristics. You can then use this information to make informed decisions about how to best manage the soil on your property, whether you’re growing flowers or trying to cultivate a lawn. Soil testing is typically performed by collecting a sample of soil from the site and sending it out to a laboratory for analysis. The lab will perform a variety of tests to determine the chemical content of the soil which will indicate the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients that are present in the soil. The results of soil testing can provide valuable information about the health of the soil and help guide decisions about treatments such as fertilization and lime applications. For example, if soil testing reveals a low level of nitrogen, a fertilizer containing nitrogen can be applied to improve soil fertility.

When should you test your soil?

It's a good idea to test your soil before performing certain lawn care services to ensure that you are giving your lawn exactly what it needs, when it needs it. Generally, you should test your soil:

  • Before fertilizing your lawn - This will help you determine what nutrients your lawn is lacking, so you can tailor your fertilizer treatments to meet the specific needs of your lawn.
  • Before adding a lime treatment to your lawn - You'll want to test your soil before applying a lime treatment to ensure that your soil actually needs one.
  • Before growing a new lawn from sod or seed - You should test your soil before growing a new lawn using sod or seed so you can make sure your soil is in excellent condition before you get started with the process to ensure satisfactory results.

What could happen if you don't test your soil?

While you may not thing it's a big deal, not testing your soil can actually lead to some severe consequences. For instance, you could add too much or too little fertilizer to your lawn if you don't know what your lawn needs. Applying too little fertilizer won't give you the results you're looking for and too much could lead to fertilizer burn! You could also apply a lime treatment to your lawn when you don't need one, causing you to waste both time and money. To ensure that you're only applying treatments to your lawn when it needs them, make sure that you have your soil tested.

It's a good idea to have a lawn care professional test your soil to ensure it's done right!

Give us a call to enroll in our lawn care program, which includes soil testing!

At Stream Line Lawn & Landscape, we offer a lawn care program that includes soil testing in addition to fertilization and weed control treatments. We offer this program to property owners in Westfield, Watchung, Warren, NJ, and nearby areas. Give us a call today at (833) 452-9666 to enroll in our lawn care program!