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Client Types & Typical Services | Analytical Services | Soil Sampling

Landscape Installation and Maintenance, Golf Course and Athletic Field: customized preplant or maintenance programs and troubleshooting. Tests: Soil Tests: A01 or A17. Amendment Test: A09. Leaf Tissue Test: A66. Water Test: A71. Pathology: P01.
Downloadable soil sample submittal forms are in the Soil Analysis section below.

Greenhouse/Nursery Growers: monitor soil and/or leaf tissue fertility, liquid feed programs, base mix character. Tests: Soil Tests: A01, A17, or A06. Leaf Tissue Test: A66. Water Tests: A71 or A74. Pathology: P01.
Downloadable soil sample submittal forms are in the Soil Analysis section below.

Agriculture: monitor soil and/or leaf tissue fertility, liquid feed programs. Tests: Soil Tests: A01 or A17. Leaf Tissue Test: A66. Water Tests: A71 or A74. Pathology: P01.

Landscape Architects: determine site conditions or specification compliance. Tests: Soil Tests: A05, A01, or A17.
Downloadable soil sample submittal forms are in the Soil Analysis section below.

Homeowners: take the guess work out of fertilizing and amending your yard. Tests: Soil Tests: A01, A17, or A05. Water Test: A71. Pathology: P01.
Downloadable soil sample submittal forms are in the Soil Analysis section below.

Organic Amendments and Composts: suitability determinations or specification compliance. Tests: Amendment Tests: A09 or A91.

Landscape Supplies, Soil Mix Formulation: monitoring for quality assurance. Tests: Soil Tests: A05, A17, or A06.

Horse Race Tracks: maintaining dirt or turf tracks. Tests: Soil Tests: A20-1 and more - contact us.

Disease Diagnosis: disease identification on tissue samples from declining plants. Tests: Pathology: P01.

The following is an abbreviated list and includes our most requested services. For pricing or our full fee schedule, please contact us.

Soil Analysis:
A01: Basic fertility package. pH, salinity, sodium and the five soluble and exchangeable major nutrients.
A05-1: Appraisal package. A01 plus sulfate, boron, sodium, USDA texture, organic matter content. A05-2 includes micronutrients also.
A06-0: Physical properties of soilless mixes. Air space, readily available water, water holding capacity.
A17: Complete fertility package. A01 plus sulfate, boron and DTPA-extractable micronutrients.
A20-1: USDA particle size appraisal.

Soil Analysis Forms
For soil analysis forms, download these Word files:
Soil sample submittal form for contractors/homeowners

Leaf Tissue Analysis:
A66: Total major and micronutrients.

Organic Amendments/Composts:
A09: Non-composted amendments. Sieve analysis, available nutrients, organic content, estimated C/N ratio, bulk density, pH, salinity, sodium, moisture content.
A91: Compost evaluation. A09 plus total nutrients and chloride.

Compost/Amendment Analysis Form
For compost analysis form, download this Word file:
Compost/amendment sample submittal form

Water Analysis:
A71: Irrigation suitability. Major and micronutrients, pH, pHc, conductivity, bicarbonate, molybdenum, aluminum and fluoride.
A73: Fertilizer in water. Major and micronutrients, pH and conductivity.
A74: Fertilizer in water. A73 plus bicarbonate.

Water Analysis Form
For water analysis form, download this Word file:
Irrigation water sample submittal form

Pathology:
P01: Disease diagnosis on plant tissue samples.
P02: Plant parasite nematode identification and count from soil.
For more information, download these two PDF files (Acrobat Reader required):

Disease sampling instructions

Disease sample submittal info

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The value of an analysis and its interpretation depends upon examination of a representative sample. Samples may be taken for preplant information, growing on information, or troubleshooting. The sample should represent the root zone, although special problems may require samples from other zones. Contact one of our consultants when in doubt.

A representative sample consists of a composite of several subsamples taken from the area under investigation. Equipment for sample may consist of spade and bucket, an auger or a soil sampling tube. Place the sample in a plastic bag. Written information including your name, address, phone and fax numbers, sample description, analysis desired, purpose of the analysis and purchase order or other authorization should be included with the sample shipment but not in the same bag as the soil.

Sample quantity must be sufficient for the appropriate analysis selected. Accuracy requires adequate sample size. Most analyses can be conducted on a one-pint sample of soil, with the exceptions of the A04, A05, A09 and A91 (one-quart), A06 (one-gallon) and M04 (three gallons).

Typical sampling depths are:
 Turf and annual or ground cover beds = 1-6 inches
 Shrubs, Rose beds, vegetable or shallow rooted field crops = 1-12 inches
 Deeprooted field crops = 1-18 inches
 Trees = 6-18inches
 Very deeprooted trees = 24-36 inches
 Raised beds, pots, miscellaneous planters = full depth

In all cases, discard the surface inch of soil to avoid including debris which is not part of the actual rootzone. For drip irrigation, take the sample close to the emitter and discard the upper two inches.