Hi Linda-

What a great time to ask your question about soil testing--you’ll have plenty of time to order a soil test kit, and make a plan for your spring planting.

Soil fertility is an over reaching term for the ability of soil to support plant growth by providing the right nutrients and conditions for plants to thrive. A soil test will give you the science-based information that you need to build fertile soil in you growing area.

I have attached three articles—one that talks about what you can expect from your soil test, and the other two speak about improving soil texture by adding organic material

A soil test can be ordered at homesoiltest.msu.edu. Residential garden and lawns are tested with the home version. Farms and commercial growers use the commercial test kit—there are two separate kits. Your test will come with complete, easy to follow instructions on collections and submission of your soil sample. This might be a tricky time of year to do the actual sampling. If the ground is frozen, you can order the test kit now, but sampling will have to wait until the soil thaws and then be submitted. The results will come to you via email. There is an additional resource that is available for interpretation of the results—you can contact the MSU Lawn and Garden Hotline at <personal data hidden>.

Your soil test results will tell you whether you have adequate organic matter in your soil, or if you need to add some. It will give you the pH of the soil, and any amendments that will be needed, and in specific amounts. You will receive all the information that you need to build fertile soil for great growing.

Hope this helps!

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension

https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/adding-organic-matter-improves-garden-soils

https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/articles/the-important-role-of-soil-texture-on-water/