URI Master Gardener Kiosk

Ask a Master Gardener and get a free soil test!

Bring your garden questions, insects, damaged leaves, etc.! Get research-based answers to all your gardening questions. Have your soil tested and get advice on how to improve it! URI Master Gardeners will be on the Esplanade outside the library (inside if it rains).

HOW TO TAKE A SOIL SAMPLE

Use a spade to collect a thin slice of soil from the root zone, about 6 inches down. Take about ½ cup from each of several spots in the same area (for example, the lawn or the vegetable garden) and mix them together. Allow the soil to air dry on newspapers. Put about 1 cup of the mixed soil into a clean plastic or paper bag and label it with the area it came from. Visit uri.edu/mastergardener for a full list of soil-testing times and locations. Trained URI Master Gardener volunteers will test your soil’s pH, evaluate its texture and give you a report with recommendations for actions to improve it.