soil sample-- turn over ground first?

[maplehillfrm]

hey guys I went and got a few soil sample kits,, it has been so wet though havent filled them yet.. My question is should I turn the ground over first and then take the samples,, or just remove some sod from the top and get it,, also how deep should I be getting the soil from,, thansk pat--

I am in upstate ny if that makes a difference

 

[randallnMo]

Don't plow the ground first and don't remove the sod. Use a soil probe and take a 6-8 inch deep sample. Usually 6-10 different samples should be probed within an area of 6-10 acres. Mix each sample together to obtain one mixed sample of the entire area. Send this sample in for testing. You can take samples when the ground is wet. Simply lay them out to dry and then mix together.

 

[showcrop]

There should be instruction with the kits. Since most likely you don't have the probe, you open up with a shovel, at six inches down with a clean spoon you scrape a little off the surface of the side of the hole, then take your spoonful from there.