Getting your soil tested

You can bring a soil sample to the Boone County Extension Center, 1012 N. Highway UU, Columbia, MO 65203.

The most important factor in getting a soil tested is to obtain a representative sample of your soil.  These can be obtained by getting a sample as deep as your tillage in random spots throughout the lawn or flower bed.  The following guide discusses getting a good sample for a lawn.

http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06954.htm

Use this same procedure for flower beds, etc.

The soil test will tell you what the pH is and how much nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to apply to your soil.