Soil Testing & Preparation

Overview

Successful crops and gardens start with healthy soil. Farmers and gardeners who take the time to educate themselves about the nutrient and fertility levels of their soil, and to correct problems before they plant, save money and time and ultimately have healthier plants. This page provides information about soil tests and amendments for the home and commercial gardeners, including composting.

Publications

Extension Publications

• Mulching Vegetables
• Soil Preparation and Planting Procedures for Ornamental Plants in the Landscape
• Soil Salinity Testing, Data Interpretation and Recommendations
• Soil Testing for Home Lawns, Gardens and Wildlife Food Plots
• Composting and Mulching
• How to Convert an Inorganic Fertilizer Recommendation to an Organic One
• Soil Test Handbook for Georgia

To see other publications, go to the CAES Publications site or the FACS Publications listing.

News

For the latest news about Extension, visit Georgia FACES. News you can use about Georgia family, agricultural, consumer and enviromental sciences.

• Adding mulch to vegetable plants increases yields, saves water
• UGA-Tifton Campus holds annual Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Day
• USAID grant to fund global UGA peanut research
• Culpepper recommends alternatives for methyl bromide
• Nutrient-rich soil is the key to growing prize-winning produce
• Technology to play key role in future of agriculture
• Growing vegetables organically doesn't mean you can't use chemicals
• Lawn care: Timing is everything
• Add organic matter, water deeply for healthy tomato plants
• A gardener's list of New Year's resolutions

Websites

UGA-affiliated sites

• Agricultural & Environmental Services Laboratories
  Provides soil, plant, and water testing as well as other laboratory services.
• Composting 101
  How and why to compost.
• Organic Vegetable Production
  Soil building basics and other organic techniques.
• Soil Testing in Georgia
  Information about how and why to get your garden soil tested.

External sites

• Web Soil Survey
  Provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey.