Soil testing is a regular part of landscape maintenance, and like most landscaping tasks, people tend to practice it during the spring. However, conducting a soil test in the fall may be more efficient and economical than waiting for the spring. Soil testing is necessary for any landscape or garden, as a soil test determines the nutrients you need to apply for healthy growth. Soil maintenance is essential for a healthy landscape, and taking the time to test your soil in fall can help you in the following significant ways.
Fall Testing Gives You More Time to Make Decisions
When you test your soil in the fall, you have a little more time to collect soil samples and make fertilizer decisions. Because you are not on a strict timeline, you have more time to plan your soil management. Additionally, you can apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in the fall when more equipment is available and soil compaction is less likely. This fall, soil management simplifies spring operations and streamlines your future planting.
Weather Conditions Are More Favorable
Fall weather can be a little milder and more predictable than spring weather, which often swings between cold, warm, and wet. Rather than trying to find the best time to test your soil in spring, you can more easily take a soil sample in the fall.
Fall is a Great Time to Apply Lime
If lime is needed to adjust excess acidity in your soil, fall can be a great time to apply lime. Applying it in the fall provides it more time to neutralize the soil acidity, so you have the best chance of healthy soil in the spring.
Savings on Fertilizer
Based on your soil test results, you may need to place fertilizer. Fortunately, fertilizer is often cheaper in the fall than in the spring, when the demand is much higher.
Soil Testing Labs Are Less Busy
Generally, you can expect soil testing laboratories to be busier in the spring than in the fall. Many gardeners, homeowners, and farmers wait until the spring to test their soil and make soil management plans. However, the busier the soil test labs are, the longer the turnaround on your results will be. This, in turn, delays when you can apply your fertilizer.
When you test your soil in the fall, you give yourself more time to prepare for spring planting, more time to manage your soil, and you may even save yourself time and money.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!