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Terrebonne OR - testing soil before we plant lavender and garlic #759158

Asked June 29, 2021, 6:42 PM EDT

Hello We have 6 acres of irrigated land in terrebonne and we want to plant lavender and garlic. We had bought some lavender from a local lavender wholesaler but they have had some sort of terrible soil virus and cancelled our order. While we are on hold for a year, we are wondering how to test our own soil before we invest in a lot of planting etc? Is there a way to test the soil for common pathogens as wells as for ph etc? There is one part of our field that has been water logged during the summers because the irrigation ditch was faulty (we've fixed it but it worries me now that I've read up a bit on soil issues. Jen

Deschutes County Oregon

Expert Response

Greetings,

Thank you for reaching out to Extension. Below are three resources to guide your soil testing process. The guide will explain what tests you may decide to go for, how to take samples, and the list of labs will break down which labs offer which kinds of testing.  It is also real helpful to call and talk to the labs about your concerns and what they can offer.  In addition I am attaching a great Lavender production resource ; ). 

A Guide to Collecting Soil Samples for Farms and Gardens - This publication is a simple guide on “how to take a soil sample”. Remember, the results of the soil test will only be as good as the soil sample taken. Be thorough, collecting a representative sample of the complete area to be tested. Check with the local Extension Service office to see if there is a soil probe available for loan.

A List of Analytical Labs Serving Oregon - This list of labs is updated every few years. Before choosing a lab, call for current prices and procedures for mailing the sample. Labs will often have packages of several analyses for a lower cost than individual tests.

Soil Test Interpretation Guide - Soil tests results may look a little foreign! This guide will help sort out the key points. For further information about specific soil results, contact the local Extension Service office or a private consultant.

Lavender Production and Marketing:  https://www.wnc.edu/files/departments/ce/sci/attralavender.pdf

Warm Regards,  Replied July 02, 2021, 5:44 PM EDT

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