NCDA&CS Soil Sample Boxes
Samples MUST be submitted in an official NCDA&CS soil box. These are available from the NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division office in Raleigh, county Cooperative Extension offices.
What to Use to Collect Sample
To take a soil sample, you need a clean, plastic bucket; soil probe, shovel, spade or garden trowel.
Do not use brass, bronze or galvanized tools (including buckets) as they will contaminate samples.
How to Collect
- Collect a slice or core of soil (4 inches deep for lawns, 6 to 8 inches deep for gardens) from 8 to 10 random locations across the lawn or garden. Note: If you are taking a sample to diagnose a suspected nutrient problem, take the sample within the plant root zone.
- Mix these cores together in a plastic bucket.
- Fill a soil box with this mixture to the red line and label it so you know which area it came from.
- For distinct areas, one sample/area should be adequate. However, certain areas may need to be sampled and labeled separately if plants with different requirements are being grown. In such cases, label samples from each unique area differently: e.g., FRONT, BACK, SIDE, BLUEB (blueberry), etc.
How deep should samples be taken?
| Crop you are wanting to sample for | Depth sample should be taken |
|---|---|
| Established lawns | 4 inches |
| Vegetable gardens | 6 to 8 inches |
| Shrubs and Trees | 4-6 inches |
Correct Soil Condition
Extremely wet soils are difficult to collect and mix. Soil too wet to till or plant is too wet to sample. Allow soil to drain before sampling.
Example of Insufficient Sampling
As you can see, the box was NOT filled to the red line. In addition, there is too much other debris which further limits the amount of soil available for testing. This means that there is insufficient soil for the lab to perform the analysis.
This page was last modified on 02/16/2026