Regional Talk > Extended Pacific Northwest > Soil analysis in Western WA

Soil analysis in Western WA

Whoops! I replied in the other thread »Re: yellowish leaves on medlar tree thinking it was here.

reply to aurgathor
Soil is going to vary widely, depending upon its source. My 5 acres in Oregon has 3 different and distinct soil types.

South Hill of Puyallup has a lot of gravel from glaciers, if I remember right. Yet the Puyallup Valley has various types of Loam. Parts of Lakewood has poor, gravely soil as evidenced by the many oaks.

Found a link to WSU showing Soil Chemical Properties and much more.
»soils.tfrec.wsu.edu/mg/chemical.htm

I used to get commercial soil analysis done by the Extension Service in both WA and OR for a nominal fee. With recent cutbacks not sure if they do it, but would think they would have sources.

Here is a link for the WA Extension Service and links for soil fertility.
»extension.wsu.edu/gardening/gene···ult.aspx

Wight's Nursery or Sky Nursery may have sources as well.

hth

-just found this - might be able to find something here:
»websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

The first 12" or so inches is OK, but below that is some piss poor soil -- I think it's clay and gravel, needing a pick axe for digging. It's yellowish gray, if I remember right.
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Bachmann 2012!

My first house in Oregon, they had scraped off all of the topsoil and left what was essentially clay. I swear I could have taken it, made bowls and fired it up in a kiln.

With that yard, I brought in whatever cheap, clean organic material I could to build up the soil. Have found adding organic matter cures a lot of things, including Ph, ability of soil to hold nutrients, drainage, making micro nutrients available and more.

Can you root prune the tree this fall when it starts raining and raise it up and surround it with some good organic material? Kinda like a raised bed?

In the last link in my prior post, you can enter your street address and then select an area and find the depth of soil, type and more.

reply to aurgathor
The hard gravelly sand is Glacial Till (probably Quaternary Vashon Till, or Qvt) Depending on your location it is probably over-laid by recessional glacial sand/topsoil (Qvr). It would be loose, sandy and in some cases slightly reddish.
I can't help you with the pH though. You can get test kits at most home stores.

Aaron
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Douglas Adams: "Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."

This SnoCo map can tell you about the soil at your location
»gis.snoco.org/maps/farming/viewer.htm

reply to aurgathor

Problem is, aside from berries (which there are a lot in nearby parks and around trails) I'm not aware of any native fruit tree. Also, with the medlar, I don't need to worry about passersby picking on it.
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Perry 2012!