If you are looking for soil testing near me – this is the place. With only a few exceptions every US state has a university based extension program that operates a soil lab. These soil testing labs can used by both commercial growers and farmers and home gardeners. Most tests are very affordable (~$20 or less) and there are instructions for how to collect and package the samples on each website.
It is common for the service to also include fertilizer or other amendment recommendations based on the test results and the crop or plants you want to grow. These are typically customized by the state (for example, here in New England, there are special requests for those interested in growing blueberries – a popular crop in the region). Your extension may offer other regionally appropriate options.
Knowing what is going on in the other half of your garden is imperative to your garden design success. In this post – Soil Compost Mulch: Restore your soil (and feed your plants) – How to Mulch and Compost a climate change solution- I talk about how these are the first things to take note of and work with as your seek to improve your landscape and build a garden. It is a great place to start.
Soil testing in the Southeast United States
Alabama – Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory
Arkansas – University of Arkansas Soil and Research Laboratory
Florida – University of Florida Cooperative Extension
Georgia – University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Kentucky – The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
Louisiana – Louisiana State University – Soil & Plant Analysis Lab
Mississippi – The Mississippi State University
North Carolina – North Carolina Department of Agriculture – Soil Services
South Carolina – Clemson University Cooperative Extension
Tennessee – University of Tennessee Soil, Plant, and Pest Center
Mid Atlantic State Soil Testing
Delaware – University of Delaware Soil Program
Maryland – University of Maryland Co-Op Ext Soil Testing Services
New Jersey– Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Office Soil Test Program
New York– Cornell University Cooperative Extension – Cornell is one of the leading horticulture and biosciences universities in the USA. Their website is a great place to stay on top of the most advanced science in the industry.
Pennsylvania – Penn State Soil Testing Services
Virginia – Virginia Tech Soil Lab
West Virginia – West Virginia University Soil Laboratory
New England Soils
Connecticut – University of Connecticut – Soil Testing Program
Maine – The University of Maine – Cooperative Extension
Massachusetts – University of Massachusetts Soil Testing Program
New Hampshire – University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension – Like many regional soil testing programs, there are options to have your soil tested for specific crops that are typical to the region. In New Hampshire it’s Christmas trees, in Massachusetts, its blueberries – it will likely be something different where you live.
Vermont – University of Vermont Soil Testing
Rhode Island – University of Rhode Island Soil Program (Use the program at UMass)
Soils in Western States
Alaska – University Of Alaska Fairbanks Soil Labs
Arizona – University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
California – University of California Cooperative Extension (add your county to this search to narrow the list)
Colorado – Colorado State University
Hawaii – University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Idaho – University of Idaho – Soil Chemical and Physical Analyses
Montana – Montana State University Extension – Soil Information and Labs
Nevada – University of Nevada Reno – Environmental Soil Analysis Laboratory (this will forward you to nearby state labs)
New Mexico– New Mexico State University – Soil Labs
Oregon– Oregon State University Central Analytical Laboratory
Utah – Utah State University Soil Laboratory
Washington – Washington State University Soils and Soil Testing
Wyoming – University of Wyoming – Soil Laboratory
Central State Extension Services for Garden Soil Labs
Illinois- University of Illinois Extension – Soil Labs
Indiana- Purdue University Soil Sampling & Testing
Iowa – Iowa State University closed their lab in 2017 (visit this link for alternative labs in nearby states)
Kansas– Kansas State University Agronomy Soil Testing Lab
Michigan – Michigan State University
Minnesota – University of Minnesota – The Soil Laboratory
Missouri – University of Missouri Extension – Soil & Plant Diagnostic Services
Nebraska – University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Soil Information and Labs
North Dakota– North Dakota State University Soil Lab
Ohio – The Ohio State University – Soil Resources
Oklahoma – Oklahoma State University
South Dakota – South Dakota State University – Soil Labs
Texas – Texas Agrilife Extension Service Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Service
Wisconsin – University of Wisconsin Soil & Plant Analysis Laboratory
Updated September 2022
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