If you want your plants to grow big and healthy, soil quality matters. Even if you aren’t planning on growing a lush veggie garden, all plants need nutrients to grow, in addition to light and water.

Before applying fertilizer or any other soil amendment, it's a good idea to see what the soil already contains. That way you ...

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Have you ever wondered what was so special about your dirt? Maybe you have a lawn, garden or some crop fields you are curious to learn more about. Or maybe you have been struggling to get growth in ...

Agricultural soil testing can be used for many purposes, but the primary use is to determine whether lime and/or fertilizer is needed, and, if so, how much. The first step in soil testing is to ...

Whether you’re preparing for your first garden, planning next year’s plantings after a successful harvest or looking to install a lawn, your first step should be conducting a soil test. “Soil is one ...

Soil testing is not nearly as exciting as planting a new perennial or landscape tree, but much more interesting than pulling weeds. It can be done any time the soil is workable, but the best time is ...

Soil is a key ingredient in any backyard garden, so it’s important to make sure it’s the healthiest it can be. That’s why longtime gardeners – and soil science experts – recommend testing. Knowing the ...

Anxious about the rueful state of his peas, radishes and onions, Rod Marquardt arrived at the University of Minnesota’s soil testing laboratory with two lunch bag-sized containers of dirt. “We’re just ...

ST PAUL, Minn. — If you suspect that your soil is to blame for your yard's poor performance, all you need is a bag of it and a couple of dollars to get a detailed analysis from the University of ...