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1. Are you frustrated with the condition of your lawn?

Sign up today for a home visit by one of our Master Gardeners to evaluate present lawn conditions and collect a soil sample by enrolling in our Grass Roots Program.

2. Why soil test?

Soil testing provides information on the proper amount of lime and fertilizer to apply to your lawn, garden, and other areas of your landscape, and aids in diagnosing common nutrient deficiencies or toxicities for plants that are growing poorly. It also specifies to gardeners how much lime and fertilizer is necessary and when to apply for minimizing nutrient runoff into surface or ground water, saving money, and optimizing plant health.

3. Where do I get a soil testing kit?

Soil test kits can be picked up at your local extension office any Chesterfield County Public Library. Kits are free.

4. Where do I send the soil testing kit?

Kits must be mailed by the resident to Virginia Tech for processing at:
Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory
145 Smyth Hall
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

There is a fee for processing the test ranging from $10 to $16 dollars per sample.

5. When and how often to Sample?

Take a soil sample a few months before initiating any new landscaping, whether you are seeding a lawn, starting a vegetable garden, putting in a flower bed, or planting perennials. Sampling well in advance of planting will allow time for applied soil amendments to begin making the desired adjustments in soil pH or nutrient levels. Sample established areas include lawns, trees, shrubbery, and other perennials - at any time of year.

Note: an ideal time to take samples is when the garden season has ended in the late summer to early fall. Sampling in the fall allows time for corrective pH and nutrient management before new growth starts in the spring. It is recommended that the soil be tested every three years.