” A soil test can provide information on the proper amount of lime and fertilizer to apply to your lawn, garden and other areas of your landscape. When gardeners apply only as much lime and fertilizer as is necessary and at the appropriate time, nutrient runoff into surface or ground water is minimized, money is saved, and plant health is optimized. Soil testing can also be used to diagnose common nutrient deficiencies for plants that are growing poorly. “
See the link below for how to collect and submit a soil sample for analysis.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/452/452-129/SPES-176.pdf