A Family History of Soil Testing

The SoilKit story begins more than a century ago, when our partner, the Woerner Family, first began farming US soils.

The family knew from the start that understanding the composition of their soil was the best and surest path to success. They have been testing their soils for decades because they recognize this is the only way to know precisely what amendments the soil needs for optimal crop growth.

As the years went by and the Woerner operation grew to become one of the largest producers of sod in the nation, the rest of the industry adopted this science-driven approach.

In fact, the US Department of Agriculture today recommends that homeowners test their lawns or gardens at least once a year‚—not only to improve outcomes but also to protect our environment from the overapplication of certain fertilizers.

It’s a simple idea, but a powerful one. Dig underneath to learn your soil story.

How Soil Kit Was Created. 

Our founder, Christina McInnis, grew up on the Woerner family farm. At an early age, she would accompany her grandmother to the family’s garden centers, where she saw firsthand how homeowners were unhappy with their lawns and gardens.

As Christina grew up, she started working in the stores herself and was surprised to see that most customers had never learned the lesson her family had practiced for decades—the vital importance of soil testing.

But when Christina walked customers through the complex process of getting a soil test done by their local extension office, she began to understand the problem. Truly scientific soil testing was laborious. Complicated. And time-consuming. Although it was one of the keys to the success of her family’s now-massive agricultural operation, it was just too much for the average homeowner to take on.

Christina realized that something had to be done. And voila! SoilKit was born.