If you want to take soil samples in the garden for an objective examination of the soil quality, you should break the spade at a depth of about 25 cm. A clod of earth is then removed from here, which should have the shape of a brick.
Take a soil sample from the edge of the spade
For a good result, between 15 and 20 samples are required per 100 square centimeters of soil. For this purpose, soil samples are taken around the edge of the spade with a clean knife or a spoon and filled into a clean bucket or other cleaned container. The soil samples must be thoroughly mixed.
If the garden is quite large, taking soil samples from different areas of the garden can be useful. Finally, about 250 to 500 g of the removed and mixed soil is removed and placed in a plastic bag, which is sealed and labeled.
Determination of soil quality
Information about how the soil is used is also important for determining soil quality, because a lawn requires different conditions than fruit or vegetables. The Agricultural Research Institute, LUFA for short, is responsible for soil sample analyzes and charges around 20 euros for a standard recommendation in the area of fertilization.