_ed.png)
Gold service - £199
Our most comprehensive
soil testing package
The more tests on a soil the greater the better it can be managed & looked after.
The Gold Service assesses nutrient levels, organic matter, water relations & soil characteristics.
This soil analysis package is perfect for:
-
finding out about a new garden
-
developing new features
-
establishing redesigns
-
success with specialist plant collections
-
those who are enthusiastic to learn more about their soil
This Service includes:
Clear, easy to understand report with results, explanation & guidance
Soil pH
Determines level of soil acidity, which governs nutrient availability to plants.
Soil water retention
The volume of water a soil holds against gravity. Has important implications for soil management & irrigation.
Soil texture
Proportion of sand-, silt- & clay-sized particles. This information significantly aids cultivation.
Lime requirement
Amount of lime needed to reduce soil acidity, thus increasing fertility on acid soils.
Organic matter
The amount of organic matter in a soil provides many benefits to soil heath & cultivation.
Conductivity
Measures level of soluble salts in soil. Provides a useful metric for the health of heavily fertilised & heavily irrigated soils.
Phosphorus (P)
Vital nutrient for leaf & root growth, insufficient stunts plant growth.
Potassium (K)
Essential nutrient-short supply affects many plant functions, but excess alters the root’s ability to take up other nutrients.
Magnesium (Mg)
Important for the green plant pigment, chlorophyll. Helps the uptake of soil phosphorus. Excess potassium causes magnesium deficiency.
Calcium (Ca)
Low levels cause stunted growth, high levels reduce uptake of other nutrients.
Aluminium (Al)
Excess aluminium reduces plant’s ability to use phosphate. Phosphate starvation cannot be fixed by adding more phosphate.
Chloride (Cl)
No evidence chloride is required for plant growth. However, it can be harmful.
Copper (Cu)
Small, but essential amounts needed for growth. Soils high in iron, molybdenum & sulphur can prevent copper uptake in some animals.
Iron (Fe)
Small amounts of iron are essential for plant nutrition. Shortages cause leaves to yellow.
Manganese (Mn)
Deficiency can occur on alkaline soils, where plant leaves can yellow and die. Toxicity can have similar symptoms but on acidic soils.
Sulphur (S)
Sulphur deficiency causes a pale green/yellow leaf colour. Younger leaf tips can die.
Ammonia, Nitrate & Nitrite
These tests highlight nitrogen availability. They are available on freshly sampled soil (under 24 hours - plot to lab). Older samples tend to provide less reliable results due to bacterial processes.
_edited_edited_edited_edited.jpg)
_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited.jpg)