{"id":8247,"date":"2022-02-27T22:01:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-27T22:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=8247"},"modified":"2025-06-23T16:45:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T16:45:20","slug":"how-to-read-soil-test-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read a Soil Test Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A soil test report offers vital insight into your lawn\u2019s health. I\u2019ll explain the standard soil tests performed \u2014 soil pH, nutrient concentrations, and others \u2014 and help you read a soil test report to compare your results to optimal values.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t worry, this is one test you don\u2019t have to study for. With countless hours spent testing soils for my master\u2019s degree, I know this stuff inside and out and will make this as painless as possible.&nbsp;<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-f83bbf47-efee-451a-9a96-d678965a5075\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#0-what%E2%80%99s-a-soil-test-and-why-does-it-matter\" style=\"\">What\u2019s a soil test, and why does it matter?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#1-understanding-the-elements-in-your-soil-test-report\" style=\"\">Understanding the elements in your soil test report<\/a><ul><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#2-soil-ph\" style=\"\">Soil pH<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#4-plant-essential-nutrients\" style=\"\">Plant essential nutrients<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#6-organic-matter-om\" style=\"\">Organic matter (OM)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#7-cation-exchange-capacity-cec\" style=\"\">Cation exchange capacity (CEC)<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#8-base-saturation\" style=\"\">Base saturation<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#9-soluble-salts-salinity\" style=\"\">Soluble salts (salinity)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-read-soil-test-report\/#10-faq-about-soil-testing\" style=\"\">FAQ about soil testing<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-what%E2%80%99s-a-soil-test-and-why-does-it-matter\"><span id=\"whats-a-soil-test-and-why-does-it-matter\">What\u2019s a soil test, and why does it matter?<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-test.jpeg\" alt=\"A close-up of a person\u2019s hand using a metal tool to place a soil sample into a glass vial for testing, with young green seedlings emerging from the dark soil in the foreground.\" class=\"wp-image-39319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-test.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-test-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-test-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-test-610x406.jpeg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/taking-a-soil-sample-for-a-soil-test-in-a-field-testing-carbon-sequestration-and-plant-health\/626138735\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Phoebe<\/a> | Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-soil-test-your-lawn\/\">soil test<\/a> is a chemical analysis used to determine the composition and quality of a soil sample. It gives you a fantastic picture of what\u2019s happening beneath the surface.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve always looked at soil testing like having bloodwork done at your annual physical. It reveals essential details and identifies problems, so you can tailor lawn care to your yard\u2019s needs. You can avoid issues like pH imbalances and nutrient deficiencies that cause poor grass growth and lawn diseases.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> If you&#8217;re new to pH and nutrient levels, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/lawn-fertilization\">hire a local lawn fertilization service<\/a> to help you interpret and apply your results for a beautiful lawn.<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-understanding-the-elements-in-your-soil-test-report\"><span id=\"understanding-the-elements-in-your-soil-test-report\">Understanding the elements in your soil test report<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The format of your soil test report can look different depending on the testing lab, but the content itself is mostly the same, no matter where you go.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-soil-ph\"><span id=\"soil-ph\">Soil pH<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the first things you\u2019ll see on your soil test report is soil pH, which measures hydrogen ions (H<sup>+<\/sup>) in your soil. Soil pH is important because it impacts nutrient availability.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The soil pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. <strong>G<\/strong><strong>enerally, you want your lawn and garden soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral) for optimal nutrient availability.<\/strong><\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-ph-infographic.jpg\" alt=\"infographic showing levels of soil pH\" class=\"wp-image-39797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-ph-infographic.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-ph-infographic-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-ph-infographic-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-ph-infographic-400x284.jpg 400w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/soil-ph-infographic-610x432.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When soil pH gets too <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-acidic-soil\/\">acidic<\/a> or alkaline, nutrients in the soil can either become unavailable, causing deficiency problems, or highly available, causing toxicities.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Pro Tip: <\/em><\/strong><em>The pH scale is logarithmic. A one-unit change in number is a ten-fold change in the acidity. For example, a 6.0 soil pH is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 7 and 100 times more acidic than an 8.0 soil pH.<\/em><\/p>    <h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-adjusting-soil-ph\"><span id=\"adjusting-soil-ph\">Adjusting soil pH<\/span><\/h4>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your soil pH is out of range, the soil test report will recommend how many pounds of <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/different-types-of-soil-amendments\/\">soil amendments<\/a> to add per acre of lawn. Generally speaking, you\u2019ll <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/benefits-of-lime-for-lawn\/\">add lime<\/a> to raise the pH and sulfur to lower it.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>See Related:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-change-soil-ph\/\">How to Change Your Soil pH<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-apply-lime-to-lawn\/\">How to Apply Lime to Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-tell-lawn-needs-lime\/\">How to Tell Your Lawn Needs Lime<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-to-add-lime-to-lawn\/\">When to Add Lime to Your Lawn<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-plant-essential-nutrients\"><span id=\"plant-essential-nutrients\">Plant essential nutrients<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plants need specific nutrients to grow strong and healthy, just as humans need vitamins. Known as plant essential nutrients, they fall into 1 of 3 categories, based on the relative amount needed for plant growth:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Primary nutrients: <\/strong>Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)<\/li>    <li><strong>Secondary nutrients:<\/strong> Magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S)<\/li>    <li><strong>Micronutrients:<\/strong> Boron (B), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni)<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary and secondary nutrients are needed in relatively large quantities and are usually measured in parts per million or percent. Macronutrients form the foundation of plant nutrition, and their deficiencies quickly lead to growth problems and yield reductions.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plant micronutrients are equally as important as macronutrients for plant health and productivity, but are required in smaller quantities. They are typically measured in parts per million.&nbsp;<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Nutrient<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Chemical symbol<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average amount measured in ppm<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average amount measured in lbs\/acre<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nitrogen<\/td><td>N (may be listed as NO3, the form used by plants)<\/td><td>25 &#8211; 30<\/td><td>50 &#8211; 60<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phosphorus<\/td><td>P<\/td><td>25 &#8211; 35&nbsp;<\/td><td>50 &#8211; 70<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Potassium<\/td><td>K<\/td><td>165 &#8211; 220<\/td><td>330 &#8211; 440<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Magnesium<\/td><td>Mg<\/td><td>100 or higher<\/td><td>200 or higher<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Calcium<\/td><td>Ca<\/td><td>1,400 or higher<\/td><td>2,800 or higher<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sulfur<\/td><td>S<\/td><td>7 &#8211; 15<\/td><td>14 &#8211; 30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Boron<\/td><td>B<\/td><td>0.3 &#8211; 0.5<\/td><td>0.6 &#8211; 1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zinc<\/td><td>Zn<\/td><td>1 &#8211; 3&nbsp;<\/td><td>2 &#8211; 6<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Iron<\/td><td>Fe<\/td><td>10 &#8211; 20&nbsp;<\/td><td>20 &#8211; 40<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Manganese<\/td><td>Mn<\/td><td>8 &#8211; 11<\/td><td>16 &#8211; 22<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chlorine<\/td><td>Cl<\/td><td>15 &#8211; 30<\/td><td>30 &#8211; 60<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Copper<\/td><td>Cu<\/td><td>0.8 &#8211; 1<\/td><td>1.6 &#8211; 2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Molybdenum<\/td><td>Mo<\/td><td>0.25 &#8211; 5<\/td><td>0.5 &#8211; 10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nickel<\/td><td>Ni<\/td><td>1 &#8211; 20&nbsp;<\/td><td>2 &#8211; 40<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note:<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><em>Your soil test report may include sodium (Na), which isn\u2019t a plant essential nutrient. The sodium measurement relates to your soil\u2019s salinity, which we\u2019ll discuss shortly.<\/em><\/p>    <h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-correcting-nutrient-deficiencies\"><span id=\"correcting-nutrient-deficiencies\">Correcting nutrient deficiencies<\/span><\/h4>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your analysis shows deficiencies, your soil test report will tell you how much of that nutrient to apply. Fertilizer recommendations are usually in pounds per acre; sometimes they will be listed as pounds per 10,000 square feet.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>See Related:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-n-p-k\/\">What is N-P-K? A Guide to Understanding Fertilizer Ratios<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/slow-release-vs-quick-release-fertilizer\/\">Slow-Release vs. Quick-Release Fertilizer<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/organic-vs-inorganic-fertilizers\/\">Organic vs. Inorganic Fertilizers<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/ways-to-apply-fertilizer\/\">5 Ways to Apply Fertilizer<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-lawn-fertilizers\/\">Best Lawn Fertilizers<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-organic-matter-om\"><span id=\"organic-matter-om\">Organic matter (OM)<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/grass-clippings.jpeg\" alt=\"A red wheelbarrow filled with freshly cut green grass clippings sits on a well-maintained lawn in a sunny backyard setting.\" class=\"wp-image-39322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/grass-clippings.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/grass-clippings-300x210.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/grass-clippings-768x538.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/grass-clippings-610x427.jpeg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/red-wheelbarrow-full-of-freshly-mown-grass-clippings-on-a-lush-green-lawn-representing-gardening-and-lawn-care\/1150521371\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sandor<\/a> | Adobe Stock generated with AI<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Organic matter (OM) is any material in the soil that is, or once was, living. It includes leaves and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/landscaping-grass-clippings\/\">grass clippings<\/a> in various stages of decomposition, animal residues, and microbial biomass.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OM in soil improves water infiltration, water holding capacity, and cation exchange capacity.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In general, the higher the OM, the healthier the soil. An <strong>ideal OM measurement is 4% to 6%<\/strong> on your soil report.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-cation-exchange-capacity-cec\"><span id=\"cation-exchange-capacity-cec\">Cation exchange capacity (CEC)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is like your soil&#8217;s nutrient &#8220;bank account&#8221; that holds onto positively charged nutrients. The higher your soil&#8217;s CEC, the more nutrients (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc) it can store, keeping them available for plants to &#8220;withdraw&#8221; when needed.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-grass-for-sandy-soil\/\">Sandy soils<\/a> typically have a small nutrient bank (low CEC), while <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/plants-that-grow-in-clay-soil\/\">clay soils<\/a> and those rich in organic matter have larger nutrient banks (high CEC).<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CEC is measured in milliequivalents of charge per 100 grams of soil (meq\/100 g). The <strong>target CEC range for your soil depends on your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/complete-guide-different-soil-types\/\">soil type<\/a><strong> (sandy, clay, loam, etc.) and pH<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Soil type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Typical CEC at soil pH of 7.0 (meq\/100 g)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sandy soils<\/td><td>1 &#8211; 5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sandy loam soils<\/td><td>5 &#8211; 10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Loam soils<\/td><td>5 &#8211; 15<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Silt soils<\/td><td>15 &#8211; 25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Clay loam soils<\/td><td>15 &#8211; 30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Clay soils<\/td><td>More than 30<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note: <\/em><\/strong><em>If your soil pH is below 7.0, your CEC will likely be lower than the table values. If your soil pH exceeds 7.0, your CEC is probably higher, too.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-base-saturation\"><span id=\"base-saturation\">Base saturation<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Base saturation is the percentage of the soil\u2019s exchange sites occupied by base cations like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. Higher base saturation usually means more fertile soil containing more essential plant nutrients and fewer toxic acid cations (hydrogen and aluminum).<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your soil report lists results under \u201cbase saturation\u201d or \u201c% saturation.\u201d Sometimes, reports list the saturation of each nutrient separately, such as \u201cK saturation,\u201d \u201cMg saturation,\u201d etc.&nbsp;<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Base cations<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Ideal base saturation in soil<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Potassium<\/td><td>4% &#8211; 8%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Magnesium<\/td><td>12% &#8211; 25%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Calcium<\/td><td>65% &#8211; 80%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sodium&nbsp;<\/td><td>Less than 1%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note: <\/em><\/strong><em>Just like CEC, the soil\u2019s base saturation increases with soil pH.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-soluble-salts-salinity\"><span id=\"soluble-salts-salinity\">Soluble salts (salinity)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might see a column labeled \u201csoluble salts\u201d or \u201cEC\u201d on your soil test report, especially if you live along the coast or in arid climates.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results will be reported in millimhos per centimeter (mmhos\/cm), a unit that measures soil conductivity. The <strong>ideal result is 0.8 mmhos\/cm or less<\/strong>. Excess soluble salts (e.g., saline soils) cause drought stress in most grasses and plants; only <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-salt-tolerant-plants\/\">salt-tolerant plants<\/a> can grow in them.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>High pH soils with significant sodium are considered sodic and are at risk for plant rooting issues. You may have <strong>sodic soil<\/strong> if:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Sodium (Na) content is 160 ppm or higher.<\/li>    <li>Sodium base saturation is above 1%.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-faq-about-soil-testing\"><span id=\"faq-about-soil-testing\">FAQ about soil testing<\/span><\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747971921175\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How often should soil testing be done?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">If your soil pH is already where you want it, test every 3 to 4 years to ensure it isn\u2019t changing. After trying to adjust pH, test every 1 to 2 years for a few years to make sure it\u2019s not fluctuating.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747971926519\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">When is the best time of year to test your soil?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The optimal testing time is the fall, just before your grass goes dormant for the winter. If you miss that window, early spring before it breaks dormancy is the second-best time.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747971932220\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Are there signs I should test my soil?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yellowing grass, poor growth, or <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-patchy-grass\/\">patchy areas<\/a> indicate problems. A soil test can help diagnose the issue and guide you to the right solution.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747972266489\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What\u2019s the best way to get a soil test?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can take the DIY route or send a soil sample off for professional analysis. Testing yourself costs <strong>under $20, <\/strong>and<strong> <\/strong>you\u2019ll generally have results within a few minutes. Professional testing costs <strong>$10 to $20 <\/strong>for pH, and nutrient analyses run <strong>$50 to $100<\/strong>. Results typically take a few weeks, but you\u2019ll know exact values and get a soil test report with fertilizer recommendations.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-when-in-doubt-test-it-out-\"><span id=\"when-in-doubt-test-it-out\">When in doubt, test it out&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A soil test is a great way to get a comprehensive look at your soil, especially if you\u2019re having problems with your grass and plants and can\u2019t figure out why. With the information above, you\u2019ll be better equipped to understand what your soil test report says and get your yard looking show-worthy.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re short on time or need an extra hand, call one of Lawn Love\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/lawn-mowing\">local lawn mowing pros<\/a> to make your newly tested lawn shine.&nbsp;<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-a572e12c-42db-41b4-a183-39444ff95c6a\" data-mobilecollapse=\"false\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"true\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-a572e12c-42db-41b4-a183-39444ff95c6a\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-a572e12c-42db-41b4-a183-39444ff95c6a\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-a572e12c-42db-41b4-a183-39444ff95c6a\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.caes.uga.edu\/extension\/publications\/files\/pdf\/C%201040_3.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cation Exchange Capacity and Base Saturation<\/a>.\u201d By Uttam K. Saha, program coordinator, Agricultural &amp; Environmental Services Lab (AESL). UGA Cooperative Extension.\u00a0<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/franklin.cce.cornell.edu\/resources\/soil-organic-matter-fact-sheet#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Soil Organic Matter<\/a>.\u201d By Megan Fenton, Carl Albers, and Quirine Ketterings. Cornell University Cooperative Extension.<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.psu.edu\/understanding-soil-ph\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Understanding Soil pH<\/a>.\u201d By Mary Jo Gibson, Master Gardener. Penn State Extension.<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/geologist-worker-taking-measurements-soil-probe-668139877\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soil testing is helpful, but the resulting soil test report can be overwhelming. We help take the uncertainty out of reading a soil test report, walking you through the individual tests performed so you can compare your numbers to optimal values, helping you to dial in your lawn care. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":8255,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[147],"class_list":["post-8247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lawn-care-tips","tag-lawn-care"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_shutterstock_668139877.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Amanda Shiffler","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/amanda-shiffler\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8247"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39799,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8247\/revisions\/39799"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}