Soil Testing and Research Analytical Laboratory

08/27/2026

Lawn Care Field Day!

UMN Turfgrass Science will be hosting a Lawn Care Field Day on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Turfgrass Research, and Outreach Education (TROE) Center in St. Paul. The event is free and open to the public, but we do ask that you register for the event.

Come to learn about best lawn care practices, including stops dedicated to the following topics:

How to have save water and have a more drought tolerant lawn

How to have a thicker lawn in dense tree shade

Does topdressing with compost to improve lawn quality work?

How to improve Kentucky bluegrass germination and establishment

How to have success with dormant seeding

Which seed mixtures work best for saving water?

How to manage the 7 most challenging weeds in lawns

Sign up at

Please fill out your contact information. This event is free but registration is required for attendance. Come to learn about best lawn care practices, including stops dedicated to the following topics: How to have save water and have a more drought tolerant lawn How to have a thicker lawn in dense....

08/24/2026

Lawns - summer stress is more than just drought.

08/21/2026

Drought - take care of your trees!

During periods of consistent rainfall, a well-established tree or shrub will need little additional water. But during long periods without rainfall, established trees and shrubs can suffer or die without timely watering.

08/04/2026

How Excessive Heat Affects Veggies

Bushy cucumber plants with no fruit, tomatoes not ripening, and beans with no flowers? We answer questions about your poorly yielding vegetable garden.

07/24/2026

https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/2022/07/as-fruit-sets-leaf-spots-follow-tomato.html

Marissa Schuh, IPM Extension Educator, mschuh@ umn.edu . Originally published 2025, revised 2026. Tomato might be the spottiest vegetable we...

07/10/2026

The Soil Testing Lab will table at the UMN Extension Hennepin County Master Gardeners Learning Garden Tour tomorrow, 7-11-2026. Stop by for a chat or to drop off soil samples. We will be at Stop F all day!

2026 Hennepin County Master Gardener Learning Garden Tour Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Location: Southern Hennepin County Purchase Tickets Online Description Explore 10 inspiring gardens at the Hennepin County Master Gardener Learning Garden Tour! This year’s self-guided ...

06/30/2026

https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/

Weekly Vegetable Update June 25, 2026 June 25, 2026 The run of pleasant weather we’ve had for the last two weeks is ending, as the next week brings hotter temperatures and increased chances for storms. NOAA is saying that next Monday could be the first day of truly dangerous heat this year in Minn...

06/10/2026

Here at the lab we love our clients.

Please remember that not everyone who is in the office has access to run the credit card machine or even has knowledge about it. If office staff are not currently in the office, we will call you when they return.

05/18/2026

CSAs through the UMN Student Organic Farm. Umn SOF

05/15/2026

https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/

Fruit Update - May 14, 2026 May 14, 2026  Article written by Madeline Wimmer, UMN Extension Fruit Production Educator.  Apples Growth stage and pest management update: Petal fall Article: Considerations for fruit thinning for normal and cold damage years Fruit thinning at petal fall Article: Europ...