The Senior Center of South Pearl River County will hold a seminar on soil testing at 11 a.m. Dec. 16.

“A lot of people that grow stuff don’t know about the soil, and sometimes they can’t make it produce and it’s because the soil needs some added ingredients,” said participation coordinator Kathleen Penton. “Even flowers and things, you’ve got to have the right type of soil.”

The seminar will be taught by Extension Agent Alex Shook. The Mississippi State Extension Service offers a seminar on a different topic at the Senior Center every month, Penton said.

The seminar will discuss the importance of testing soil and knowing nutrient levels, said Shook.

Shook will cover the process of testing soil. The seminar will be helpful to anyone with an interest in planting or growing a lawn, he said. Testing soil before planting can save gardeners or farmers from investing in plants that will not be able to grow in their current soil, Shook said.

Soil testing determines the ph level and macro and micro levels of nutrients. A soil test only costs $10 and includes recommendations to make the soil more suitable for certain plants for three years, Shook said. The Center is located at 45 El Patch Parkway in Picayune