Soil Testing

I would like to soil test my lawn and gardens. How can that be done best around here. Is it best to do by myself or should I have someone help out?

If you want to test for NPK and PH levels, there are home test kits sold that are fairly simple to use yourself. They usually run about $15 or $20 and have enough supplies to perform ten or so tests, so you could do several areas. If you want to test for contaminants like lead or other heavy metals, you could send a soil sample to a lab. I've done the latter because I wanted to know the extent of my garden soil contamination from the plume of the Asarco copper smelter that used to be across the water in Tacoma. It was relatively expensive, $20 per soil sample, and per element being tested for. I found I am within the normal range for lead ppm (parts per million) and a little high on the arsenic. Thankfully not nearly as much as nearby wooded properties. I tested the plain soil before I had added any organic matter. With the piles of compost an manure I have added, I am hopeful that I have brought my soil to within the normal range.

Thanks, its just for NPK and pH, not metals, I will let that be as no smelters are in this region to my knowlege.

I think that if you take it locally they might not tell you the truth. (liabilities?) If you send it to a Federal agency you probably will be more informed. Look on Internet for toxic soils to be evaluated. They will direct them.

No, there are EPA rules on Testing of soils for toxics. They are bound to the truth.

I suppose business' who have spilled don't have enough money to have soil testing people to "overlook" such heavy metals. LOL

You should see how scared the owner or responsible party can be when the soil testing is done. Its been one of my jobs, soil testing for contaminants.

Good I can trust you AnaD. How much have you made by cover ups? LOL