Area retailers offer FREE lawn soil tests during Earth Day weekend!

Don't guess - soil test. That's the advice of turf management experts. Soil testing is a first step in determining what your lawn needs for optimum health and growth.

Now is the time when property owners long to get out and enjoy warmer temperatures, and get that grass growing green. While nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients are necessary for a healthy lawn, over-application or misapplication of fertilizers wastes money, ruins plants, and pollutes water. In our area, that water includes the Kalamazoo River, its tributaries and our numerous lakes.

On Saturday, April 21 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the following area retailers and hosts are offering residents free testing of their lawn soil:

So, take a sample of your lawn soil in for testing. It's easy! Just follow these directions.

1. Using a clean trowel and pail, collect ten representative soil samples from your lawn.
   
   
2. For each sample, remove a trowel-full of soil that extends a few inches below the surface. (Do not include roots, thatch, plant materials, rocks or gravel in the sample.) Mix the ten soil samples together in the pail.
   
   
3. Place 1 cup of the well-mixed soil in a clean plastic bag or container. Dry or damp soil is okay, but soggy soil should be allowed to air dry.

Only one lawn soil sample per person, please.

This free soil testing day is sponsored by area retailers in partnership with a broad coalition of citizen groups, business and industry, state and local agencies and educational institutions interested in the protection and restoration of the water quality of the Kalamazoo River Watershed, and is supported through volunteer activities of area Master Gardener Volunteers.

If you are unable to participate in this event, soil samples may be submitted to the Kalamazoo County MSU Extension office anytime between 8;00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is located in Room 410, Wing 2, 3299 Gull Road in Kalamazoo. The cost for these soil tests is $10.00; they are evaluated in the Soil Sciences Laboratory on Michigan State University’s campus, and a printed report is mailed to you along with recommendations for soil treatments.

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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