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An active gardener knows the importance of soil testing. But do you know the right technique to derive a representative soil sample for such a soil test? As a matter of fact it is the first requirement to collect a most appropriate soil sample that can be submitted to a soil testing station or laboratory.

The “Depth” Concept                       In this regard you must understand the concept of “Depth” while taking the sub-samples. There are specific recommended sampling depths for different types of soils, gardens, and lawns. For instance, if you are planning trees and shrubs in your garden the ideal depth of deriving samples would be around 6-inches.Similarly, for a vegetable and flower garden you should take samples at around 8-inches.You may also derive samples at tillage depth as well. But if you have an established lawn then the recommended depth to derive a soil sample is not more than 4-inches.

Measuring the “Depth”Measuring the soil sampling depth is very crucial. You could possibly have a non-beneficial sample if this depth measurement is not done correctly. Your results of the soil test would be very different and this could spoil your garden despite your best efforts.Start measuring the depth from the soil –surface downward. This is the best approach. Take care of any slopes existing in your garden landscape. The level of soil surface could vary at places within a distance of few meters only. While measuring depth in a lawn the thickness of turf-thatch must be excluded. The depth of 4-inches should start from the base of turf-thatch and not above this level.

A depth of around 8-inches is recommended for vegetable and flower gardens. It is primarily because you are required to count-in the thickness of any lime or fertilizer also. If you are planning to grow trees and shrubs in mulched beds you should first remove any existing layer of mulch or other surface debris and then start measuring the depth. In this case you should always measure depth up to 6-inches.“Depth” ConsistencyAnother important aspect of soil sampling is the “Depth Consistency”. You should never try changing the depth every year in a particular garden, landscape, or lawn. Consistency is the key factor in maintaining the same soil quality for a longer period. If you are deriving soil samples from the same depth every year then you will find the best soil test values and it would more accurate to compare these results.