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    Spring Fever pg.6

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    Farmer Publishing
    The document provides information about properly testing soil before applying fertilizer to gardens. It states that without soil testing, gardeners may over- or under-fertilize, harming plant growth. The best way to know what nutrients plants need is to submit a soil sample to the University of Missouri Extension's soil testing lab for analysis. The summary describes how to collect a representative soil sample and explains that test results will include customized fertilizer recommendations.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Spring Fever pg.6

    Uploaded by

    Farmer Publishing
    27 views1 page
    The document provides information about properly testing soil before applying fertilizer to gardens. It states that without soil testing, gardeners may over- or under-fertilize, harming plant growth. The best way to know what nutrients plants need is to submit a soil sample to the University of Missouri Extension's soil testing lab for analysis. The summary describes how to collect a representative soil sample and explains that test results will include customized fertilizer recommendations.

    Original Description:

    4/9/2015

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    The document provides information about properly testing soil before applying fertilizer to gardens. It states that without soil testing, gardeners may over- or under-fertilize, harming plant growth. The best way to know what nutrients plants need is to submit a soil sample to the University of Missouri Extension's soil testing lab for analysis. The summary describes how to collect a representative soil sample and explains that test results will include customized fertilizer recommendations.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    27 views1 page

    Spring Fever pg.6

    Uploaded by

    Farmer Publishing
    The document provides information about properly testing soil before applying fertilizer to gardens. It states that without soil testing, gardeners may over- or under-fertilize, harming plant growth. The best way to know what nutrients plants need is to submit a soil sample to the University of Missouri Extension's soil testing lab for analysis. The summary describes how to collect a representative soil sample and explains that test results will include customized fertilizer recommendations.

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    Page 6 April 9, 2015

    SPRING FEVER

    Riding mower safety

    Dont guess on garden fertilizer


    Source: Manjula Nathan, (573) 882-0623, University of Missouri Extension
    Dont add fertilizer to your garden unless
    you know what the soil needs.
    The best way to make sure your plants get
    the right nutrients is to have the soil tested,
    says Manjula Nathan, director of University
    of Missouri Extensions Soil and Plant Testing
    Laboratory (SoilPlantLab.missouri.edu) and
    MU associate professor of plant sciences.
    We frequently get questions from
    customers like, I apply fertilizer every year.
    How come my plants arent doing well? Most
    of the time the problem is they never have
    done a soil test and have been guessing on
    fertilizer requirements.
    Without soil testing, you may end up overor underfertilizing, resulting in an imbalance
    of soil nutrients, she says.
    Soil tests for lawns, gardens and farm
    fields are available through MU Extension
    for a nominal fee. A basic soil test report
    includes information about soil pH, organic
    matter content and key nutrients.
    Nathan says lab tests are more accurate
    than an over-the-counter test kit, and they
    provide specific suggestions on fertilizer and
    other amendments based on what you want
    to plant, whether its flowers, vegetables,
    turf or trees.
    A 2010 summary of lawn and garden soil
    tests revealed that about 55-75 percent of the
    soils tested had high or very high phosphorus
    levels, and about 65-80 percent had high or
    very high levels of potassium, she said.
    Too much fertilizer isnt just a waste of
    money. Overfertilizing can lead to brown or
    withered plants, and promote leaf growth
    over blossoms and fruit. Excess nutrients
    in runoff can find their way into streams,
    lakes and rivers.
    Taking soil samples
    For soil sampling, use a garden spade to
    remove a slice of soil, going about 6 inches
    deep. Break off the soil on either side of
    the slice to leave a strip about an inch wide
    and 6 inches long. Take about six samples
    from random spots in the garden. Avoid
    depressions and berms, which dont give
    good soil samples.
    Mix the samples thoroughly and collect
    about 1 pint of the resulting composite. You
    can get free sample boxes and submission
    forms from your county MU Extension center.
    You can also download and print the form
    at www.extension.missouri.edu/MP555. Fill
    out of the form completely to receive fertilizer
    and lime recommendations for the plants you

    want to grow.
    You can take samples to your county
    MU Extension center or, if you live in the
    Columbia area, bring them directly to the
    lab at 23 Mumford Hall on the MU campus.
    (There is free short-term customer parking
    directly behind the building.) A basic soil test
    is $10 per sample if you submit directly to
    the lab. There is a small shipping charge if
    you take samples to an MU Extension center.
    Soil test results
    A soil test report will include
    recommendations for adding nutrients, in
    pounds per 1,000 square feet (or pounds per
    acre for farms, commercial fruit and vegetable
    operations, and turf).
    Another key part of the report is the pH, a
    measure of how acid (low pH) or alkaline (high
    pH) the soil is. Most fruits and vegetables
    grow best in soil with a pH of about 6-7.
    Soils tend to become more acidic over time,
    so you might need to increase pH by adding
    limean acid-neutralizing material typically
    made from crushed or ground limestone. If
    youre growing plants that like acidic soil,
    such as azaleas and blueberries, you might
    need to add sulfur to lower the pH.
    Specialized tests
    Compost and manure can improve soil
    health, increase nutrient- and water-holding
    capacity, reduce erosion, and aid movement
    of air and water in the soil. They also contain
    nutrients and nourish microorganisms that
    release nutrients. This can reduce the amount
    of fertilizer your soil needs, so you might
    want to test your compost or manure if you
    use a lot of either.
    If you are starting an urban garden,
    there may be dangerous levels of lead in
    the soil. While a soil test for heavy metals
    is expensivetypically $45-$75, depending
    on the testyou only need it once if results
    show safe levels.
    The lab also offers tests for water,
    greenhouse media and plant tissue. Go to
    soilplantlab.missouri.edu/soil/testfees.aspx
    for a complete list of tests and fees. If you
    have questions, contact the lab at 573-8820623 or soiltestingservices@missouri.edu.
    For more information from MU Extension
    on lawn and garden topics, including
    free publications, articles and online
    resources, go to www.extension.missouri.
    edu/LawnGarden.

    Riding lawn mowers are tailor-made for people who have large expanses of property
    to maintain. Though such mowers initially may have been created for commercial
    landscapers, eventually private citizens realized the benefits of owning a riding mower
    for the maintenance of their own properties.
    A riding mower can considerably reduce the time and effort that goes into mowing
    the lawn. Todays riding mowers can do everything from cutting to mulching to blowing
    leaves and snow.
    Despite their convenience and availability, riding mowers are not a piece of machinery
    that should be taken lightly. Various health statistics point to riding mowers as a major
    cause of injury and emergency room visits each year. A Johns Hopkins University study
    found more than 80,000 Americans are injured every year while mowing, and around 95
    annual deaths can be attributed to riding mower accidents.
    To ensure safety to yourself and others, heed these tips for operating your riding
    mower correctly.
    * Look for a mower where the blade turns off if the machine tips or if the driver leaves
    the seat.
    * Wear goggles and earbuds when operating the mower to avoid eye and ear injury.
    * Remove sticks, toys, rocks, and other items from the lawn before mowing.
    * Operate the mower
    up and down a slope
    instead of sideways to
    maintain stability.
    * Never fuel a hot
    engine.
    * Do not let children
    ride the mower alone
    or in tandem with an
    adult.

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