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Location

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Date Posted

Illinois

Hi everyone,

I have a question that I haven't seen answered on the various lab sites I've been visiting. I am setting up a new plot on a part of my lawn we aren't using. We've never grown anything there but grass. In order to make this area suitable for pumpkins, I will be building it up with some store bought soil and manure.

My question is should I take a sample before I add the new soil/manure or after?

3/14/2013 6:51:14 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Yes take a soil sample before. Why add store bought soil to it? You have no idea what your buying and your soil now is pure....

3/15/2013 12:30:58 AM

Illinois

Because we don't have enough soil to make a mound. Also, the land was graded four years ago so I really doubt our soil is "pure"...

3/15/2013 10:08:53 AM

Colorado

I'm in the same boat as you- turing grass into new patch. not sure if its the "best" way forward, but I tilled in grass, then amended with topsoil and compost, the retilled it all together, sent out for soil test, and am now fine tuning based on the test results to get it dialed in perfectly. seemed like the best way to go in my opinion becuase I knew I would be adding the topsoil and compost anyway.

3/15/2013 3:27:01 PM

Stanwood, Washington

I think if you are going to add the soil anyway. I would add it and till it all in so that your sample has an appropriate mix of both. That way your ammendments will fix whatever is needed for both the new and old soil. If you test now and then add the soil later you will have to test again anyway or you won't really know your true levels.

3/15/2013 4:09:41 PM