What is the soil pH?

How much organic matter is in that soil?

How well does the soil drain?

Cornell Cooperative Extension does soil testing and a basic soil pH test is about $5.00. http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening/lawn-care

Here are a few simple soil tests that may be of some use.

1) Soil test for organic
material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in
a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and
replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24
hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight.
For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the
bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above
that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole
1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains
away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain
away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs
more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the
soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful
of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is
released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a
finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your
soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant
odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria
will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter
can be bad as well.

5) Life. How many
earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5,
according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that
is not healthy.

kimmq is kimmsr

The pH of soils in the northeast can be extremely variable - anywhere from strongly acidic (5.5 or less) to neutral to slightly alkaline (7.5 or 8.0). So if you don't know, a pH test is well worth it. Actually, the home testing kits sold by garden centers and home improvement stores are remarkably accurate if you follow directions and use distilled water. And they are inexpensive.

But if you are new to the property and plan on doing significant gardening or landscaping, I would strongly urge you to have a professional soil test done. Not only will this provide you with an accurate pH level but you will also be able to determine the percentage of organic matter and any nutrient imbalances that may exist in your soil as well as receive suggestions on how to address them.UMass has an excellent reputation for soil testing but most other land grant universities can provide similar services for a very reasonable cost.

A problem with those home soil test kits is that they do not tell you much of anything except what the soil pH might be, nothing about how to correct any off pH. If the pH is low (acidic) how much, and which kind (calcitic or dolomitic) lime is needed to correct the problem. If the pH is high (alkaline) how much sulfur is needed to correct the problem.

I'm not sure UMASS tests soils from out of state but I do know that UCONN does. However, Cornell has your neighborhood Cooperative Extension Service that you can contact for help that using some other soil test lab may not provide.

kimmq is kimmsr