Preparing Soil in Winter for a Successful Spring

Summary

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Though spring is still several months away, we can start making some soil preparations for our lawns, gardens, pastures, and cropland.

The first thing we should do is perform a soil test. A soil test can give us a great deal of information about the pH and nutrients in our soils. The pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The nutrients we have the most interest in are phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg). There are also several minor or micro nutrients included in the test but they are mainly used to detect problems with plant growth. Nitrogen (N) levels are not determined with the soil test because nitrogen is very mobile in the soil and this type is soil test is not as reliable for nitrogen testing. The results from the soil test are used to determine the correct fertilizer and lime rates for your soil.

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Extract

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Preparing Soil in Winter for a Successful Spring

The reliability of a soil test is only as good as the sample you submit. The following steps will help you take an accurate, representative sample of your soil. First, you need to select the right tools for the job. A soil probe is the best tool for taking a sample because it is fast and collects...

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