Soil testing: fast, easy, money-saving, and eco-sensitive

MILFORD — Taking soil tests is one of the best ways to ensure a productive garden - it is also surprisingly easy, quick, and inexpensive, only $9. The standard soil test will measure Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur. The report you receive from Penn State will indicate all of this, and tell you what kind of fertilizer to use, when to apply it, and how much lime or sulfur to add, for whatever plants you are growing. Soil tests can be purchased at the Pike County Cooperative Extension Office, 514 Broad St., Milford. Once you have the test kit, you can take soil samples - detailed instructions are included in the test kit packet. It only takes a few minutes to gather samples, which are left to air-dry, mixed and a small sample is mailed in the bag from the kit to Penn State. In about 7-10 days you will receive your comprehensive report. Homeowners generally need a soil test about every three years since soil fertility changes due to plant growth. In general, many plants do best in slightly acid soils of pH 6.1 to 6.9. Some plants require more acidic soil - pH 4.5 to 6.0; these include azaleas and blueberries. A soil test is the only precise way to measure pH. Among the benefits of soil testing are that not only is it inexpensive, but it saves a great deal of money on fertilizers and lime. At a time of excess run-off of chemicals into the environment, precisely measuring and applying what is needed for plants prevents over-use and protects the environment. For more information contact the Pike County Cooperative Extension office by phone at (570) 296-3400, by e-mail at PikeExt@psu.edu or by fax at (570) 296-3406. Also, visit the Pike County Cooperative Extension website, http://pike.extension.psu.edu , for information on a variety of other topics.