Submitting A Sample

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• Get a sample box

  • Official soil sample boxes are available at the Nelson County Extension. An unofficial, about 3”x4”x3”, box will work. Official boxes process more quickly.

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• Get a Soil Test Form

  • A fillable form is at the left link. You can pick one up at the Nelson County Extension to fill in by hand.

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• Fill out a form

  • Make sure your contact info is legible. VT prefers to email results, so include yours for faster service. The form has instructions on what selections to make. Usually the Routine soil test is all you need, but if your soil is underperforming, or you are new to your land, you may desire the Organic Matter and Soluble Salts tests also. Be sure to pack your box full if you do. “Insufficient soil submitted" is a common result from the soil lab for these tests.

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• ​Take a sample

  • The form provides basic information on how to take the sample. Gathering soil from your area of interest, mixing them together, and submitting from that mixture. See the Soil Sampling for the Home Gardener and YouTube links left for more detail.
     

• Submit your sample

  • Mail the completed Information Sheet with the sample box and payment (check made out to Treasurer, Virginia Tech) in a sturdy shipping box to the Virginia Tech Soil Testing Lab:

145 Smyth Hall

(MC 0465), 185 Ag Quad Ln,

Blacksburg VA 24061

 

You can also drop the form, check and sample box at the Nelson County Extension Office. This usually takes longer than mailing yourself, but saves on shipping costs.

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• Receive your results

  • Once your test is complete, the VA Tech Soil Lab will email your results to you. If you do not provide an email, they will mail the results, this will take longer.

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• Implement the Lab’s advice or seek advice

  • The results will be a table of values for Macro and Micronutrients. The table will also have assessments whether the values are low to very high. The test will provide you recommendations, usually regarding how to adjust your soil pH and the nitrogen to add for your crops. The Notes link left gives you some amplification on these recommendations. If it all makes sense, amend your soil as recommended, otherwise contact the Nelson County Extension Agent or Master Gardener Help Desk for assistance.