gardening – Page 3

October 18, 2023Linda Carney

Soil Testing Primer

On the Growline we get a lot of questions about how to take or submit soil samples, so we’ve put together some frequently asked questions and answers to make it easier. After the why, where, when, what and how of this process, read on to find out who can help you interpret the test results.

Why should I test my soil?

The health of your soil will determine the health of the plants you grow, whether it be a lawn, a field of flowers, vegetables, berries or trees. A thoughtful approach considering the physical, chemical and biological factors that play a role in the total health of your soil will help you get the best results.

So where do you start?

Have a clear idea of what you want to know about your soil and what you want to learn from getting your soil tested. What will you plant? Where is it located? What was planted there before? What are the “neighbors” – plants or trees surrounding the area? Do you know your soil type – sandy, clay, loamy? Each unique area will need to be sampled separately.

Web Soil Survey use to get description and identify type of soil (sandy, clay, loamy)

When should I test my soil?

Fall is generally considered to be the best time to collect a sample for testing, especially when considering the pH of your soil, however it can be done in the spring or anytime during the growing season.

What do I need?

Gather a few clean tools without rust. Avoid brass or galvanized tools or containers as they will skew your results. A stainless steel probe or soil auger is ideal, but a clean plastic bucket and a rust free trowel or shovel will work for any home gardener. You will also need to double bag your sample in 2 quart-sized sealed zip-lock baggies for each sample area.

How do I take a soil sample?

Walk across and around your garden area in a random, zigzag manner and make about 10 different 4-6 inch deep holes. From each hole, carefully slice a thin vertical section that represents all depths of the soil. Put each slice in your bucket and mix thoroughly. Remove large roots and stones, crush any large lumps or clods, and place about 2 cups of the well mixed soil in a double zip-lock bag. Avoid sampling in wet conditions and in areas where lime or fertilizer has been recently applied.

Taking a Soil Sample useful illustrations of sampling “zigzag” shown on bottom right

Meet Anneke Larrance, Master Gardener Volunteer

With a new cohort of Master Gardener Volunteers beginning to serve their community, we’d like to introduce them (AND YOU!) to the group of MGVs who have sustained this program for the last several years. Meet Anneke Larrance!

Can you remember the moment you decided to become a gardener, or when you realized you had become one?

I was raised on a farm and we grew much of what we ate, so I learned early the miraculous transformation of seed into good things to eat. My mother traded pieces of iris, leaves of African violets, and “starts” of many houseplants, and I learned from those processes too. Weeds and fertilizer were topics of conversation. I didn’t decide to become a gardener, I naturally grew into one.

Anneke's geraniums — I take cuttings from my own geraniums to start new plants every year.

What benefits do you gain from gardening?

Gardening clears my mind and soothes my soul. It’s also great exercise. I sometimes commune with my free-ranging chickens while I garden and I do my best writing there.

Why did you want to become a Master Gardener Volunteer?

There were so many things that I wanted to learn!

In what ways do you serve as a MGV?

I’ve made presentations, written articles, judged 4H horticulture at the St. Lawrence County fair, weeded at CCE, answered lots of gardening questions, tabled at different events, and led holiday wreath-making.

My two biggest projects were helping to design, prepare, and then plant the original perennial landscape at CCE. During the pandemic I spearheaded the design, construction, planting, and care of a living quilt on the slope at Cornell Cooperative Extension (see picture above).

August 3, 2023Linda Carney

Meet Linda Carney, Master Gardener Volunteer

Can you remember the moment you decided to become a gardener, or when you realized you had become one?

My mother grew up on a farm where by necessity just about everything they consumed was from the plants and animals they raised. She left the farm, joined the military and then raised a family on the move. She always had roses and a few other plants to tend to wherever we lived, but these were always patches we left behind. When my husband and I bought our house and land here in Natural Bridge, back in 1986, that heritage and opportunity became mine to kindle and bring to fruition with our family.

What benefits do you gain from gardening?

It brings me great joy just being outside, seeing nature at work and discovering its beauty. When I can, I love to share that joy and the discovery of nature with children. I also find gardening to be a peaceful and rejuvenating experience.

Why did you want to become a Master Gardener Volunteer?

Becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer began as a means of connecting with my past but then evolved into a way to continue to learn and teach others. It allows me to maintain my connection with the school at which I taught for thirty years and where I helped to establish a small school garden.