Big Ideas
- Tennessee has a unique environment that varies greatly across the state. Even our soil profiles can differ from one county to the next.
- Soil testing is the gold standard for assessing soil fertility needs.
Discussion Points
- What unique features of your county’s climate and soils have you noticed?
- How is gardening and landscaping different in Tennessee as compared to other places?
- Why is it important to consider the local climate, soil profile, etc. when planning a landscape or garden?
Facilitator Notes
- Encourage participants to submit their soil samples as soon as possible to make week 4 more beneficial for them. Encourage them to use the home garden, landscape and at least 1 turf crop code.
- Ask participants to take mental survey or sketch of their landscape before next week. They will be drawing their landscape, and if they have a good mental picture, it will help.
Overview
- Soil Testing/ Our Local Soil and Climate
- Explain how soil testing is done and distribute soil boxes.
- Discuss the local soil profile and climate.
- Soil Ribbon Testing
Instructor Materials:
- Sampling tools (soil probe, shovel, spade, bucket)
- Sample box
- 2 different soil samples (1 ideal sample and 1 not ideal that includes rocks, grass, etc.)
- Soil that can be used for the ribbon test- enough for all participants
- Water
- Average Rainfall and First and Last Frost Dates data for your area
Participant Handouts:
Activity Goal
This activity is designed to get new residents familiar with the local climate and soil profile. Help them get started by having them take their own soil sample. We strongly suggest that you include the price of a soil test in the Welcome Home class fee so that they collect a sample, you send it in and then help them understand the soil report as part of week 4’s activities. Encourage them to submit their samples as soon as possible.
Agent Prep Videos- not for use during class
These videos will help you prepare to facilitate this activity.
Engage
Discuss the local climate and soil and how it differs from other parts of Tennessee. Ask the participants what unique features they have noticed about the local area. This can be about the soil or climate itself or about the plants that grow there as a result of the climate and soil type.
Explore
Have two examples of soil samples to discuss in the classroom and make the point that the result is only as good as the sample.
- Ideal sample with multiple sub samples (10 is ideal) that are of appropriate depth (0-6”) and are dry and free from organic matter, rocks, and debris. You can mix the sample there in the demo to show that all sub-samples are blended well to form the main sample.
- Non-ideal soil sample that can include a range of issues. There could be shallow samples, wet samples, or samples with rocks, debris, grass and organic matter. There could be few samples as well as samples that are clearly different showing an attempt to blend samples from sites that are quite different.
Explain
After showing those two samples, use them to walk through the important elements of a soil sample. One sample blended from multiple sub-samples that represents a management area of lawn, landscape or garden that is generally similar.
- Discuss selecting the sample areas according to their management or characteristics. Then, discuss when multiple samples are needed due to larger differences in the soil area, previous histories and such. (Also, added note, if it is a raised bed with bark, peat, compost, that should be a soilless media test and not a soil test which is a different fee and returns a slightly different report).
- Explain the steps in soil sampling.
- Determine test area and plants to be grown in that area
- Get appropriate materials (probe, shovel, bucket, instructions, sample sheet)
- Take sub-samples from the area
- Remove rocks, debris, etc.
- Air dry
- Blend
- Fill out the sample form
- Pack and mail to the lab or bring into the office
- Walk through the sample submission form focusing on:
- Options for testing- basic, organic matter, texture, etc.
- Explain the different plant codes.
Elaborate
If time and space allow, walking outside to demonstrate taking a soil sample in real life can be a great asset.
Demonstrate how to perform a ribbon test. Allow participants to try ribbon testing.
Another great way to elaborate on this activity is to share about what differences you have seen in soil around the county. This could be based on parent material or on urbanization and changes due to development.
Evaluate
Discuss common questions about or hurdles associated with the local soil profile and climate.
- How can I find out what plants can grow here?
- This is a complex question. First, we need to consider what plants will survive in the climate. One of the best ways to understand this aspect of climate is with the USDA plant hardiness zone map. There was a very recent (late 2023) update to this map and you can search your zip code and find climate and hardiness zone information for your area. ( https://planthardiness.ars.usda. gov/). This map brings a very wide array of data and science together to help describe winter cold and implications on plant hardiness.
- What impacts plant survival other than winter cold temperatures?
- Good question. Winter hardiness is important but it is only one aspect of plant survival and performance. Summer heat can be very impactful as can the ability to withstand temperature fluctuations and soil moisture and humidity. These factors are harder to research, so we don’t have clear maps for all of them. But, there are many useful plant selection resources from Extension and beyond that you will be introduced to during this teaching series as well. Local knowledge and your own experience will be important as well. So, we would encourage you to utilize plant hardiness zone maps as a great place to begin with plant selection but to also use the many other excellent Extension resources on plant selection to help you chose great plants for your site and location.
- What can I do to improve compacted soil?
- Most home owners will deal with compacted soils somewhere in their landscape (or beyond). Whether it be a newly constructed home, a lawn that is not performing up to expectation, or an ornamental bed, compaction can occur as soil structure is disturbed/removed/added and as a result the soil “collapses” and the spaces between soil is reduced. The first two conditions may seem obvious… disturbed and removed. However, we can also see compacted soils when topsoil or other “fill type” soils are added on top of an existing soil or when tillage or heavy traffic degrade existing soil structure. All of these issues can result in a layering effect or compacted soils that dramatically reduce plant performance. So, what can homeowners do to improve soil conditions? One of the most important ways we can improve soil conditions is by adding compost (organic matter). Compost will help lower the bulk density of soils by increasing pore space, improving air movement and increasing moisture retention. Another step is to maintain good soil fertility and adequate pH levels to ensure plants have adequate/good nutrition. Together these steps provide an environment for successful plant growth which encourages a positive cycle. More plant growth means more plant roots that themselves support structure and stabilize the soil.
- How can you tell if your soil is native or would be considered a disturbed site?
- USDA Web Soil Survey. Web Soil Survey is a website provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is a site where home/landowners can go to see soil maps of their properties. In rural communities and/or farms, these maps can provide detailed descriptions of soil profiles and land usage. In urban areas, these maps may provide a starting point to soil characteristics, but due to soil disturbance/construction may not reflect as accurately as in rural/undisturbed areas. In either case, Web Soil Survey can provide beneficial information from soil mapping to soil health.
- How can I find out about water quality in my local creek? How do I know what watershed my land is in?
- How can I find out more information about Sustainable Landscaping?