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How and why to test the safety and suitability of topsoil

Why should I analyse my topsoil?

If you are investing in a residential or commercial project or have recently moved into a new property then understanding the quality, composition, and nature of the topsoil you will be working with is vital in reducing the risk of poor plant health and low crop yields.

Soil contamination is an issue that isn’t well understood but has the potential to waste a lot of time, money, and labour and in extreme cases, be a risk to human health.  

Knowing that topsoil is less than ideal can be remedied through adding composts, soil improvers, fertiliser or importing fresh premium quality topsoil ahead of planting schemes.  

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How can I check my soil’s safety and fertility?

There is a readily available range of simple testing kits, most of which focus on pH levels; however, they generally provide only limited information about the broader but important health of your soil.

For peace of mind, a more in-depth analyses comes from specialist testing company Soil Check.

 

Soil Check offers two types of testing kit:

Info Centre - Soil testing

1) Safe Soil Kit: tests for several of the common contaminants that pose a risk to humans and plants in gardens and vegetable allotments. Show me more.

2) Fertile Soil Kit: summarises the existing fertility of your soil, which helps determine how to potentially add nutrition to your soil and what you can grow. Information on pH, Nitrogen, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorous and Organic Matter are detailed in this test. Show me more.

Or you can look into the Multi Soil Bundle: This bundle combines both tests for a reduced price. Show me more.

The results of a Soil Check test will give you a more detailed report about the quality of topsoil tested which in turn will help you decide whether any remedial action is necessary before you go ahead and complete your planting or landscaping project. 

For more details on the kits and process visit the Soil Check website. 

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Commercial-scale soil analysis

If you require a more extensive service for commercial purposes, visit the Tim O’Hare Associates website for details of their specialist independent soil testing services for landscapers, contractors, manufacturers and sports amenity sectors. 

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Important update: Temporary 6.5% surcharge effective 7 April 

At Rolawn, we are committed to maintaining the high standards of quality and service our customers expect, so we want to be open with our customers about a change that will affect pricing from Tuesday 7th April. 

This decision has been taken in response to disruption to energy supplies, which has led to significant increases in wholesale prices, affecting not only fuel and fertiliser but also costs throughout our wider supply chain. As a business that relies heavily on fuel for both transport and operations, these sustained cost pressures have become increasingly difficult to absorb.  

While we have worked hard to mitigate the impact, the scale and pace of recent price increases have now exceeded what we can sustain internally, and we therefore need to recover a proportion of these externally driven increases. 

From Tuesday 7th April, a temporary 6.5% surcharge will apply to all products.  

We know that any increase in price is frustrating, particularly at a time when many businesses and households are already feeling under pressure. That is why we want to be clear that this is not a decision we have made lightly, and not one we wanted to make. It has been introduced solely to help offset unavoidable cost inflation and allow us to continue delivering the quality, reliability and service standards associated with Rolawn. 

We will continue to monitor market conditions closely and will review this surcharge as soon as circumstances allow, providing reasonable notice of any changes. We recognise that any price increase is unwelcome, but this step is necessary to ensure the continuity and reliability of our operations during a period of ongoing uncertainty. 

We remain committed to providing the quality, reliability and service standards you expect from Rolawn, and we truly appreciate your understanding and continued support. 

If you have any questions, please contact our customer support team who will be happy to help.