Soil Sampling - Soil Testing

Soil Lab Test Bag and Sampler

When trying to maintain a perfect playing surface it is important to think about what types of soils you are working with. If you don't know what's down there then how can you know how to treat your soil for the plant's benefit? Some people will tell you that simply getting a shovel and digging a hole will give a good idea of what you've got but in the end, nothing beats a simple soil test from your local soils lab. I encourage everyone to get annual soil tests done. This will not only tell you what you have existing in your soil but will help you to understand what effects your soil treatments are having on the composition of the soil minerals.

Core Sample from Vicory Ranch Fairway

Above is a picture of a soil sample from a random fairway at Victory Ranch Golf Club. You can see a significant thatch layer followed by a dense clay later. The chunk of white is what's left of an application of Ag grade calcium carbonate done 3-4 years before the photo was taken on. It will slowly break down in the soil providing relief from salts passing through the soil matrix.