Soil sample probe

After a life time of slap dash soil sampling that takes far too much time, I've decided it's ok to finally rationalize buying a real soil sample probe.

Any rec's out there for a good product? Ideally something that can get through clay soils. My memory is 8-10" depth is ideal.

I know it's not a big budget item, but always looking to learn from others before wasting any $ on a less useful product.

Thank you!

-Josh

Earthworks
Zone 7a in West-Central MD
Non-commercial, ~100 fruit trees, dwarf to MM106



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/2018 09:20PM by Josh Willis.

After busting one too many "budget" soil probes, I decided to spend the big bucks and buy one from www.ams-samplers.com, model 56977. They also make one with just the flighted auger 56979. I went with the 56977 model so I could have the tube as well as the auger since I occasionally will sample sandier soils or soils with fewer rocks. But mostly I use the flighted auger. Built for WW3 and beyond. Great customer service. etc. Either way they're not cheap, but they will not break either.

Mike Biltonen, Know Your Roots
Zone 5b in New York

Thanks, Mike! You read my mind. As with most things, you get what you pay for. But it's good to have your experience to kick my behind into that rationalization.

That said, I'll be holding off on my own purchase for now. Talking to my local co-op supply store, it turns out they lend out a (pretty nice looking) soil probe sampler, b/c well it's a co-op. Their web store had only listed one of those short 'budget' ones. So chalk another win up to actually talking to people & not relying only on web searches. : )

Earthworks
Zone 7a in West-Central MD
Non-commercial, ~100 fruit trees, dwarf to MM106



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2018 02:54AM by Josh Willis.