How to do a Soil Analysis - Step-By-Step Guide

Having a soil analysis is essential if you are wanting to know what fertiliser is best for your land whether that is a lawn/amenity turf, a paddock, flower bed or a garden vegetable patch.

Here is our easy step-by-step guide on what the process entails for a soil tests

1. Once you have purchased one of our soil analyses, you will be sent a pack containing an A5 analytical order form, a clear plastic bag (this is the soil sample bag) and a white plastic pre-paid envelope.
2. Collect the soil samples
   • For more information on how to do this, see here.
3. Put both the A5 analytical order form and your soil sample in the pre-paid white plastic envelope and pop it in the post
   • It is important that you include the A5 analytical order form with your soil sample so that the laboratory know who to contact once they have completed their analysis
   • Be careful if you are having more than one field sampled to make it clear on your form which field each analysis is for
4. Once the lab have analysed the soil samples and we have received your results, we will then send you a copy of the soil test results along with a fully tailored recommendations for you to use. This usually takes around 7-14 days. Our FACTS qualified technical advisors are also on hand to take you through the soil test if you have any questions

Make the most of your soil analysis - follow these instructions on how to collect your soil sample

1. What do you need for your soil test?
   • Ideally a clean bucket, trowel and the soil sample bag that gets sent back for analysis
2. Using a trowel take soil samples across the area that you are having analysed and place them in the bucket
3. When collecting the soil sample you should dig as deep as the rooting depth of the plant areas you are analysing, for example, if you were testing a grassed area such as a paddock, you would normally dig to 10cm (4 inches) deep
4. In order to get a result that reflects the whole area that is being tested, walk in the configuration of a “W” collecting sample at each point (shown in picture below)
5. Avoid taking samples from certain areas such as under gateways, around water troughs, hedge lines and under trees
6. When you have all of the soil samples in the clean bucket mix thoroughly – this will ensure accurate results
7. Fill the clear plastic soil sample bag and seal.

Take a look at our available soil analysis tests to find the right one for you.