Response:

Greetings, Adam! Thank you for your question to AskExtension/Ask a Master Gardener. I am a Master Gardener in Hamilton county and, along with almost a hundred others, I volunteer my time to respond to questions posed by gardeners in Ohio. I will be happy to help you with your excellent question.

Congratulations on considering a soil test to improve the quality and health of your lawn. It is a wonderful idea! In the following response you will find options for submitting a soil sample, information about how to collect said sample and links to research-based resources, should you want to learn more.

Your first option would be to contact your local extension office to see if they have soil test kits and/or if they take submissions. Some, but not all Ohio Extension office offer this service. The phone number for the Medina County Office is<personal data hidden> and a link to their website is here and is also listed in the resources below.

If your county doesn’t facilitate soil samples, or if you prefer, you can send your soil sample directly to a lab. This Fact Sheet from the Ohio State Extension “Ohioline” will give excellent guidance. The list of labs is at the end of the article; I suggest you call or email the lab you choose to be sure the information is still current. Lab information, availability, and pricing changes frequently.

There is a right way to collect your soil sample. This Fact Sheet, also from “Ohioline” gives detailed instructions with photos to guide you through the process. Once you collect and submit your sample, results should arrive in one to two weeks. They should include reports and analysis to help you decide if you need to add nutrients or minerals to your turf soil.

If you have further questions you can respond to this email and it will come directly to me.

Wishing you a beautiful and lush lawn!

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Resources for you:

Medina County Office 4046 Medina Road, Medina, Ohio 4425<personal data hidden> https://medina.osu.edu

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops and Vegetable Gardens - Ohio State University Extension https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1132

Choosing a Laboratory for Nutrient and Soil Health Testing – Ohio State University Extension https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-0107

Interpreting Your Soil Test Reports – Penn State Extension https://extension.psu.edu/interpreting-your-soil-test-reports

Reading a Fertilizer Label – Clemson Extension https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/reading-a-fertilizer-label/

• Adam

Hello, Again, Adam!

Thank you so much for responding. Your kind words are appreciated more than I can say. Write back anytime ... there is no time limit! :)

Enjoy this beautiful Spring weather