Whether you tend a postage-stamp backyard garden or a large acreage, having your soil tested is a bargain you can’t afford to pass up.

For the price of a couple of fast-food meals you’ll receive a detailed soil analysis from a state-of-the-art testing facility, along with crop-specific recommendations for amending or fertilizing your soil. Following through with these recommendations will save you money, help you grow a better crop, and improve your soil environment.

The lab gets busiest in spring, so get your sample in as soon as your soil thaws enough to sink a spade into it.

To find all the information you’ll need to collect and submit a soil sample for testing, visit the Soil Testing Web page or visit your county Extension office in person.