Knowledgebase
How to rebuild wet/clay land from weeds and blackberries to native plant oasis? #927360
Asked April 02, 2026, 2:01 PM EDT
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Ask Extension! If you want to get your soil tested for pH, Lane County Master Gardeners offer soil testing events for $2. It looks like they are offering one this Saturday (April 4): Soil pH Testing | OSU Extension Service
For more comprehensive tests, here are some services commonly used for garden soil testing:
- Simply Soil Testing (just for gardens & landscapes)
- A & L Western Labs (garden packages but also serves commercial farmers)
- Western Laboratories, Inc. (garden packages but also serves commercial farmers)
- Farm and garden stores in your area may sell mail-in kits (check places like Wilco, etc.)
Check the company’s website for fees and instructions on mailing samples. Make sure to send enough soil. There are no local walk-in labs in our area. Everything is mailed these days.
Remember to list what plant you want to grow in the area (vegetables, lawn, fruit trees, blueberries, etc.) and request recommendations with the soil test. Then, you will get specific advice on adjusting the fertilizer rates and pH for optimum growth.
Here’s an OSU Extension article with helpful info on soil testing. It covers collecting samples, the full list of soil testing labs, and how to interpret results.
Good luck and let me know if you have any other specific questions.