Should I test my soil for pH and phosphorus content before seeding with grass seed? If so is there a test lab on the North Shore/Burnaby area or a test kit product I can purchase? What phosphorus content should I be aiming for? I am located in North Vancouver and have topsoil purchased from the North Shore Transfer Station. A friend who is a horticulturalist in the Northeastern US suggested testing to determine how much lime to add to bring the pH to between 6.5 and 7.0. However, when I called a local nursery to get a referral to a soil testing service, the salesperson suggested testing was not necessary and I could simply add some dolomite lime. I assume the packaging would prescribe an application rate.
For a soil test there is a lab in Cloverdale that I use, its near 192 and highway #10. Search google for norwest labs, they were bought out by a conglomerate a few years ago but the search will get you there. As for necessity, I wouldnt think it is critical. As for 'the label will tell you how to use it", yes, it will, but if you dont know where your pH is to start, it wont be able to tell you how much to put on. For dolomite lime someone once told me that a 20kg bag on 1000 sq feet will raise the pH about 1 point on the scale. I have seeded directly on to the soil that North Shore provides and have not had any major problems to date.
Jimmyq, thanks for your response. I'll call norwest labs tomorrow and update this thread as I proceed.
