From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here is a pretty good listing of soil testing labs in Canada and the USA at the following link at;

http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/soil-testing-services.html

4/1/2005 9:35:44 PM

Canada

Yup Ive been getting my samples done at A&L Labs out of London but after spending $70 twice, I choose to switch over to Agri-Labs out of Guelph as they are closer and its
$30 per sample.

Dave

4/7/2005 5:49:54 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Dave, do you mean Agri-food at http://www.agtest.com? Which soil package do you get? I have been needing a test for a while and they were one of the labs I was thinking of using. But, I imagine that my patch is much smaller than yours. Do you think I could get away with something less than the complete $30 test, maybe the "Lawn and Garden"? Thanks.

4/7/2005 7:55:55 PM

Canada

Crammed, I spoke with Stephanie Kailing over at Agri-Foods Labratories ( yes www.agtest.com), I was looking at getting the Lawn and garden package myself for $15 per sample the problem is, The only results you get back out of that test are:

Lawn & Garden Basic I $15

Ph,Phosphorus,potassium, magnesium

I choose to go with the AFL Basic II $18

for $3 more you get results back on

Ph,Phosphorus,potassium, magnesium, Zinc,Calcium, Organic Matter + AFL Recommendations.

I guess you "could" go with the basic lawn and garden test so youd have a rough idea were your soil is at. But for myself my last sample done my numbers were all over the place, They gave me recommendations on what to add and so I did dureing the my fall prep, I'm going with the Basic III so so i can see what has all changed.

Dave

any questions feel free to e-mail me

Bronco4x4@sympatico.ca

4/8/2005 9:58:28 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The "Lawn" test described is fine if you're just checking an already stable garden soil. But when first getting things going, a complete check of all micronutrients & percent organic matter is a good idea. I would recommend the full test every year until things are dialed & you "get to know" your soil. But after a while one knows their own soil well enough that thorough tests aren't mandatory any more unless something goes wrong or some major changes are planned.

4/8/2005 10:53:49 PM