Friday, March 22, 2002
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Friday, March 22, 2002 |
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Now's the time for soil sampling How does your garden grow? Everyone knows no garden or landscape will succeed without water, sunlight, and ... dirt. But what is in the dirt can make or break a garden. The Fulton County Cooperative Extension Service is reminding gardeners it is not too late to send soil samples in for analysis before spring planting. They will provide sample bags and instructions for collecting the samples. The fee for soil analysis is $4. Results take approximately three weeks. For most yards or gardens, samples should be taken every two to three years. Gardeners should collect separate samples of soil for each planting area. For example, soil from flower beds and lawns should be in separate bags. The Cooperative Extension Service will send these samples to a laboratory at the University of Georgia, where the various components of the soil are analyzed. By knowing the content of the soil, gardeners can help the environment by adding only the nutrients that are needed. Some gardeners add too many chemicals to their lawns and gardens. When these chemicals are not absorbed in the soil, rain can wash them into water sources, causing pollution. For more information, call the Fulton County Cooperative Extension Service at 404-730-7000.
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