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Replies

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  Felicity Waters January 23, 2010 at 11:57am

  In case you are ever after soil testing for contamination try Toxic Land Check but its service does not include routine PH tests
  
  http://www.toxiclandcheck.co.uk
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  Laurel January 23, 2010 at 12:18pm

  Thanks Rob. RHS provides an analysis of soil texture, pH, organic matter and three major plant nutrients (potassium, phosphorus and magnesium), which is fine in some cases.
  
  Thanks Felicity, Thats very handy to know. RHS also don't test for any contamination.
  
  Though, I was really looking for an analysis service that provided results for trace elements also.
  
  What sort of testing do all the green keepers out there use?
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  Vanessa Langford January 23, 2010 at 12:59pm

  Hi Laurel,
  I use the soil testing kit available from LBS garden warehouse. I find it's accurate and good value as it has enough ingredients to do multiple tests. I hope this is of help?
  
  http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=R-WTSTK&n...
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  Geoff Norfolk January 23, 2010 at 1:32pm

  looks good value.......... couldn't work out why the pro version is so much more when it HAS 2.5X number of tests and costs nearly 4x amount!...... am I missing something!!
  Vanessa Langford said:

  Hi Laurel,
  I use the soil testing kit available from LBS garden warehouse. I find it's accurate and good value as it has enough ingredients to do multiple tests. I hope this is of help?
  
  http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=R-WTSTK&n...
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  Vanessa Langford January 23, 2010 at 3:48pm

  When I bought mine they didn't have the 'pro' version. I don't think it is any different...maybe the test tubes are bigger? I'm quite happy with the £20 version.
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  Pip Howard January 23, 2010 at 4:35pm

  Often have to get comprehensive soil tests done and can often get them gratis either from a decent horticultural / agricultural supplier, (or the production company) this is usually in the case of setting a management regime based on products they can supply or by way of a local agronomist, usually advertising in the local farmers co op. These guys can often refer to a comparable site (or same site) and provide sheets of info cheaply and often for free if you nip to their office and butter them up.
  
  Also if your local Uni has a good land based department their libraries will often contain masses of info on the soils of the specific area, sometimes with really good maps.
  
  We are finding it increasingly important to use contamination tests as Felicity mentions as with the stronger emphasis on using land for growing, the risks are just too high. It is also frightening to see what is present in some soils, and very easy to protect against once known.
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  Pip Howard January 23, 2010 at 4:59pm

  From experience I would also be a more than a little sceptical on the accuracy of postal soil testing.
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk January 24, 2010 at 3:03am

  pitchcare.com
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  Laurel January 24, 2010 at 11:05am

  Thank for all the replies so far.
  
  John - In the past i have used mostly general purpose granular treatments for lawncare, which has served me well and has achieved good results. Whether or not this is an acceptable method of treating lawns is another topic (To me its seems wasteful and harmful to the environment), but this year i want to do things a little differently and only apply the nutrients that the soil needs, which requires some decent soil analysis.
  
  
  
  Ace Garden Services - John said:

  Hi Laurel,
  Can you be a bit more specific about the garden/area that you are concerned about.
  Hi Pip
  With regards to,
  We are finding it increasingly important to use contamination tests as Felicity mentions as with the stronger emphasis on using land for growing, the risks are just too high. It is also frightening to see what is present in some soils, and very easy to protect against once known.
  
  I would appreciate a bit more information, as I feel that this is an important topic.
  Thanks John
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  Pip Howard January 24, 2010 at 5:24pm

  Hi John, Felicity's blog http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/growing-your-ow... explains a bit more about this and I've written a couple of pieces on the Cornwall landscaping blog on here. Huge issue and still very much under wraps, but there are some serious mistakes being made. Certainly on post industrial sites the contamination can be severe.
  
  Thanks for email by the way, will add that on.
  
  
  Ace Garden Services - John said:

  Hi Laurel,
  Can you be a bit more specific about the garden/area that you are concerned about.
  Hi Pip
  With regards to,
  We are finding it increasingly important to use contamination tests as Felicity mentions as with the stronger emphasis on using land for growing, the risks are just too high. It is also frightening to see what is present in some soils, and very easy to protect against once known.
  
  I would appreciate a bit more information, as I feel that this is an important topic.
  Thanks John