I think the issue though is that while a soil test is a safe recommendation, it's probably overkill for a small garden. We have given suggestions to add various different organic nutrients (compost, and nutrient rich mulches and compostables). In a grave-sized garden, how can that course of action NOT produce good results? Especially when the OP has already successfully grown a garden on this plot once, and merely wants to continue that success? Certainly there is nothing WRONG with a soil test. If one wants to know, then by all means, do the test - regardless of the size of the plot. I'd also advise a soil test for anyone who is *SERIOUS* about their gardening - meaning someone starting a market garden or who plans on raising a significant portion of their family's food on their own land. In this case, the stakes are higher so a soil test is probably a good idea. At the same time, though, people have been raising crops for thousands of years without soil tests. I haven't had one in years and don't feel the need to do one now. Most other gardeners I know have never had one. Seasoned gardeners rely heavily on experience and observation to tell them what to do. Granted, newbie gardeners lack experience and observation skills, but that's what we're here for! Chances are, most of them would not know how to interpret a soil test either, and would thus end up right back here for advice anyway, but $30 poorer. Again, I have NOTHING AGAINST soil tests - how could I? They are a powerful tool in certain circumstances. I just think that there is a lot of other advice and encouragement we can give before we play the soil test card. What's more, I'll bet that scarcely 1 in 10 gardeners who are given the soil test spiel here on this forum actually take the advice. Most people simply aren't going to get that involved. Don't get me wrong, Kimmsr - I'm not trying to offend. Any of us who have been on this forum for any length of time know that you have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to the table. I personally keep an eye out for your posts, curious how you will weigh in on any particular topic. I just think sometimes the whole soil test thing is overkill. -Diggity

There isn't anything we need to stock up on except bug spray. I keep the garden organic and will probably die of DEET poisoning. Nothing else really works with Alaskan sized skeeters. We wear the same clothing, winter and summer. I pull some shorts out of the laundry room storage, but since I was raised in the Mid-West, I think we have about one day a year which warrents shorts. My kids think they are dying if it's above 75. I do take the time to wash and repair the winter gear before putting it away until next fall. I can never tell if something will fit in five months, so I do my gear cleanout in October. My biggest change for summer is rearranging our schedule. Each of the kids has Scout camp for a week and then there are several things they would like to do. DS 12 really wants to take the culinary boot camp offered at the local university and I was too late to get him signed up last summer. Gloria

No doubt Angela! It's practically spring here and I just finished fertilizing the lawn! Since it's so mild here, our grass can stay green all year. I worry about the potential drought we'll have this year. Blessings, Haley

What is the type of grass you have? Did you apply any pre-emergent in spring? From my experience, application of a pre-emergent in early spring is the key to having a crab grass free lawn - Along with other good practices like mulch mowing the lawn at the highest possible setting on your lawn mower, deep and infrequent watering schedule etc. and proper fertilizing with either synthetic or organic fertilizers. The current batch of crab grass that you have can be tackled with a post emergent weed killer like XLR8. Even if you do not apply any weed killer, crab grass being an annual, will die out at the onset of the first frost. However, the seeds that are already formed are deposited in the lawn waiting for the right conditions for germination. This is going to be in next spring/ summer. Timely application of the pre-emergent will prevent them from germinating.