Look over the topics below, and read the ones that will help you better understand your yard and garden practices. Fill out the accompanying work sheet to see where you might need to make improvements. Adding fertilizer without first testing your soil is like taking medicine without knowing if you need it. Your soil already has some of the nutrients needed for good plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is important to find out how much of each nutrient is present.
Soil testing takes the guesswork out of how much fertilizer to use.
Check with your local University Outreach and Extension center or garden supply stores about testing your soil. Testing often involves taking small samples from several places in your yard and garden. The soil is analyzed, and you receive a lab report that lists the amounts of each nutrient in each sample. Because of local differences, some parts of your property may need regular applications of fertilizer while other areas may need few or no applications. Soil tests should be conducted every three years.