KJFM NEWS –  Garden Talk is produced monthly at the Adair County University of Missouri Extension Center in Kirksville, Mo.

To take the best soil sample from a garden, don’t just stick a trowel in the ground, throw some soil into a baggie and take it to your local MU Extension office. Here are some guidelines to help you get the most from a soil test:

1. Use a clean spade and a clean bucket.
2. Push the spade deep into the ground and remove a spadeful of soil. Set it aside.
3. Using the spade, shave off a 1-inch slice from the back of the hole. The slice should go 6 to 8 inches deep and fairly wide across. Place this in the clean bucket.
4. Repeat this procedure five to six times in random spots in your lawn or garden. Placing the samples in the bucket.
5. Mix the samples thoroughly. Take about a pint of soil to your local University of Missouri Extension office. For a small fee, they will send your sample to a lab at the University to be analyzed.