From Mercer County Soil & Water Conservation District:
We are slowly on our way to spring and summer even though the weather has taken its time warming up. It’s not too late to pull a soil sample to determine your fertilizer needs. For the eleventh year, the Mercer SWCD, the Lake Improvement Association, and Helena Agronomic Center are partnering together to provide discounted lawn and garden soil samples. Healthy soils are the start to beautiful lawns and gardens. Understanding what the nutrient levels are in your soils is the first step.
Stop by the Mercer Soil and Water Conservation District office or the Helena Agronomic Center outside of Coldwater to get your coupons today. For $5, you will be provided with a coupon for the soil sample, a soil collection bag, and informational brochures. A soil probe is available to help collect soil samples. Return the coupon and the soil sample to the Mercer Soil and Water office or Helena Agronomic Center and your results will be sent to you in a few weeks. Should you have any questions, call the Soil and Water office at 419-586-3289 or Helena Agronomic Center at 419-678-2267.
A healthy soil includes bugs, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, good soil structure, and establishing good root systems to prevent soil erosion. To learn more about soil health, visit Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Health Awareness Page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/. Dig around a bit and learn more about the earth beneath you.