Thank you for reaching out to ‘MSUE ask extension’ on how to obtain a soil test.

You can go online to homesoiltest.msu.edu to order your soil test kit. It is $26. It will provide you with instructions on how to take the soil sample. It will provide a bag and a self-stamped addressed envelope to send the soil sample to the lab. Expect 2 weeks to get results back. The instructions may provide a video on how to take the soil sample. In the instructions it will ask you what you are testing for: lawn, trees/shrubs, vegetable garden (which vegetables); or flower garden. Be sure to check your spam email if you have not received results in 2 weeks. Call the msue hotline<personal data hidden> if you still have not gotten your results. You can call the hotline once you have the results to better understand the soil test results. The hotline can look up the soil sample number and look at the soil test with you.

If you are testing for a crop, commercial fruit, and berries, you need a commercial soil test and you can get that at your local county extension office. Their number is<personal data hidden>. You will need to set up an appointment time to get the soil test kit and they have moved and are in a downtown flint office building where the CRIM office used to be located. If you can’t get the online soil test kit, call the local extension office and see if they have a kit or can assist you with getting a kit.

Jay B.

MSUE Master Gardener