Homeowners who want to get their soil tested for free have until Nov. 23 to submit their sample to the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension office.
The deadline to submit soil samples to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) to qualify for the free testing is Monday, Nov. 30. Any soil samples delivered to the Cooperative Extension office by Nov. 23 will be delivered to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) soil lab allowing ample time to avoid the soil testing fee.
Free soil testing is provided every year through the Cooperative Extension office from April 1 to Nov. 30. All soil samples received during the lab’s peak season, Dec. 1 to March 30, will incur a $4 fee per sample.
“The most popular question we receive at the Extension office is ‘How do I get my soil tested?’” Cooperative Extension Director Lisa Childers said. “The foundation for successful gardening or for growing crops is healthy soil. It is almost like getting your bloodwork done at the doctor’s office. If you want to plant a spring vegetable garden or flower bed, submit a sample now.”
A soil test will show which nutrients a gardener has in the soil and what is missing. Homeowners can visit the Cooperative Extension office at 301 East Mountain Drive to grab a soil test kit from the soil sample tub in the front of the office and return the sample to the soil sample tub. The drop box will have soil kits, extra soil test boxes, a required information sheet and instructions. Once the soil is analyzed, gardeners will receive a soil report through email.
To see a tutorial on how to sample your soil, click here.
For more information on how to properly take a soil sample, visit content.ces.ncsu.edu/a-gardeners-guide-to-soil-testing or contact the Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Hotline at 910-321-6882.