Hello, 

Thank you for reaching out to Ask Extension! 

Your local Master Gardeners may offer free pH testing for soil; please reach out directly to the program for more information: Grace Florjancic, Home Horticulture Coordinator (<personal data hidden>)

For more comprehensive tests, here are some more soil testing 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 with your garden and let me know if you have additional questions.