Take The Guesswork Out Of Gardening With A Soil Test

Soil testing is a valuable tool to ensure success in your lawn and garden.  It provides a quick and accurate determination of the pH (acidity) and the level of several plant essential nutrients like: phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.  These results will help guide your decisions on plant selection, soil preparation, and fertilization.  These decisions have a huge impact on whether your plants and lawn thrive or become victim to insect attack and fungal or bacterial diseases.  Over or under fertilization can be the difference in a beautiful lawn and garden or an eye-sore.  Good soil fertility can also help your lawn compete with weeds.   Many weed species thrive in poor fertility soil.

 

Soil testing can be done at any time of the year, but winter months provide a great opportunity to prepare for the spring.  If pH changes need to be made then it gives a chance for it to work before fertilization in the spring.  Below is a link to instructions on how to take a soil test.

 

Video: How Can We Grow More Food With Less Impact?

For over two decades, Dr. Mitloehner has been at the forefront of research on how animal agriculture affects our air and our climate. With deep expertise in emissions and volatile organic compounds, his work initially focused on air quality in regions like California’s Central Valley—home to both the nation’s richest agricultural output and some of its poorest air quality.

In recent years, methane has taken center stage in climate discourse—not just scientifically, but politically. Once a topic reserved for technical discussions about manure management and feed efficiency, it has become a flashpoint in debates over sustainability, regulation, and even the legitimacy of livestock farming itself.

Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Air Quality Specialist with the CLEAR Center sits down with Associate Director for Communications at the CLEAR Center, Joe Proudman.