Thread: Soil testing
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Old 24-09-2011, 08:38 AM posted to alt.home.lawn.garden
GuvBob GuvBob is offline
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Default Soil testing

wrote in message ...
On Sep 20, 10:33 pm, "GuvBob"
wrote:
"Eggs Zachtly" wrote in .. .
GuvBob said:


Here in the Peoples Republic, they charge and arm and laig for testing soil at the County Extension. If anybody nose where us pore saps in Calif can send a sample for testing for pocket change, I would sure like to find out.


Guv Bob


Test it yourself. =)
--


Eggs


Chopped cabbage - not just a good idea... it's THE SLAW.


Good advice. But would like to have more than N, K & P and acidity. I suspect one part of the yard (not near the fruit & vegs) may have some contamination from oil. Not enough for a gusher - I think there used to be an oil storage tank on that part of the back 40.



Just out of curiosity, what do they actually charge at the County
Extension?
Here in NJ, last time I did it which was probably 5 years or so, I
think it
was about $15, which doesn't seem like such a bad deal to me for an
occasional test.

This place does them for $25

https://www.midwestlabs.com/lawnandg...wn-garden-kit/


But, first thing I'd do is figure out exactly what any place will test
for.
Here, AFAIK, the $15 soil test was only for the basic soil test and
not for a test for oil contamination. I would think you might have to
get that done seperately. If oil contamination is your concern,
perhaps googling for that will find labs that do it.

But, quite frankly
before doing that, I'd make sure I thought through the consequences
of getting the results. One being that right now you don't know
you have any contaminaed soil. Once you have a report saying
you do, then you have an obligation to disclose that to a future
buyer. Also, who knows what the laws in CA say about what a
property owner who discovers oil contamination is legally
required to do.

===

Yeah, I'm not that curious. It's most likely a disease or pest.