Soil Testing Labs?

13 years ago

Can anyone recommend a soil testing lab? I've used the home kits but am interested in sending some of my garden soil to a lab. The last thread I could find on this forum is several years old. Also, do you know how much they cost?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

terrestrial_man
13 years ago
Check the link

Here is a link that might be useful: Google It
loribee2
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, I'd done a number of google searches last night. I was wondering if anyone had actual experience with any of them.
Related Discussions
Soil testing labs in CA for home gardeners
Q
Comments (1)
I have used the Perry Laboratory in Watsonville several times and was very pleased with the way they treat the home gardener. Al
...See More
Interpreting Soil Test Lab Results & Plan of Action
Q
Comments (1)
Your soil pH (7.4) indictes that your Ca and Mg are in balance even though they are "high to very high". Most all plants find a soil pH between 6.2 and 6.8 to be optimal because that is the range most all soil nutrients are most readily available, however, most of these plants will do fine at somewhat higher or lower soil pH levels. So what is the level of organic matter in that soil?
...See More
Cork spot disease in apples soil test follow-up question
Q
Comments (1)
I would confirm a diagnosis with your local extension service before I did anything else :-) And they will likely have some treatment suggestions for you as well, if it is cork spot/bitter pit. Given your current pH, I would not apply limestone as that might raise it even more. Maybe try a calcium spray instead, as many websites suggest. And I'd back off on the N applications as well, as that can encourage the development of the problem.
...See More
recommendation for soil testing lab
Q
Comments (6)
"https://www.gardenmyths.com/bloom-booster-fertilizer-nonsense/" That is a completely reasonable and well substantiated premise! Unless previously heavily farmed, very few soils are deficient in P and rarely ever need supplementation. In some areas, phosphorus is a very heavy pollutant, especially when applied in its fertilizer form, and steps have been take to reduce its application. In fact, WA state has now prohibited including P in lawn fertilizer, perhaps the biggest contributor to P overuse and pollution. btw, plants bloom and fruit very productively without so-called "bloom booster" fertilizers. They are really unnecessary and more a marketing gimmick than a defined plant benefit. And just a FYI but very few land grant universities/extension services offer soil testing these days. Too expensive to staff and maintain the labs. UMass and TAMU are about the only two good ones left.
...See More
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
I had soil tests for two properties done by Perry Laboratory in Watsonville Ca. I was well satisfied with the tests and the consulting on the results. Their phone is 831-722-7606. Al
loribee2
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, Al. Do you mind if I ask what they charged? I've seen on this forum people saying you can have them done for as little as $10, but the only one I found that quoted a price on-line charged $75! (I could buy lots of soil amendments for $75, heh).
loribee2
Original Author
13 years ago
Never mind that last question. I found their website and it had the information I was looking for. The only thing I'm not sure about is which test I should be looking at:

Horticultural Appraisal ($135)
Soil Fertility ($29)
Soil Fertility, Salinity, Alkalinity ($63)
Soil Micronutrients ($32)

With recommendations, the prices are even higher. When you submitted yours, do you recall which one you requested? I'd love to go the full boat, but boy, those prices are steep!
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
13 years ago
Did you ask/search over on the soil/compost forum? Seems to me there were some suggestions there for CA.
loribee2
Original Author
13 years ago
No, I'll try that. I did the general search at the top of the website. I only recently realized you can search individual forums (which was a huge coup and totally improved my hit ratio). I hadn't thought about the soil forum, thanks!
loribee2
Original Author
13 years ago
Ugh, I don't know. It looks like the best way to start an argument is to go to the soil forum and ask about soil testing. My searching got me more confused than anything!

Maybe I should keep to my original plan of waiting for the weather to warm up and see if my garden improves. These are new raised beds I put in late last summer. The entire top foot is "veggie mix" soil from a local quarry, followed by an inch or so of gravel then clay underneath that. I've done a home test and all the major nutrients came up fine, PH about 7.

Last fall, I planted onions, broccoli, lettuce and chard and all of it did beautifully. I put my spring crop in a month ago and everything looks horrible. The lower "older" leaves of my squash have chlorisis and keep dying off even though the new growth looks great. My tomatoes leaves are curling like tacos, are dark green with a purplish tinge on them and haven't grown an inch, though they are trying to flower. My pole beans sprouted beautifully but now the leaves are turning lime green instead of staying lush and dark. Peppers are still tiny and some of the leaves are curling. Everything is stunted. My pansy and marigold leaves are purple and brown.

Conversely, my peas are doing beautifully, flowering and fruiting without a problem at all. Cucumbers aren't bad either. Being peas are a cooler weather crop makes me think my problem is the weather not my soil.

Adding to that suspicion is that the water meter registers off the scale when I go more than 3 inches down. Daytime highs have been in the low 70's, nighttime lows high 40's to about 50. Because my fall crop did so well, I'm thinking my problem is more water and temperature than it is nutrient deficiency. I've fertilized twice, once with fish emulsion then with miracle grow and didn't see much change. I'm afraid to try again because to do so means I have to spray more water.

I was thinking maybe I should have the soil tested, but dang, I hate to spend all that money only to discover my first instinct was correct--it's a water/weather issue that will correct itself if summer should ever arrive.

Hubby tells me I'm impatient and I'm overanalyzing the garden to death. Maybe he's right!
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
My test were done in the early nineties. I said I was planning on growing ornamentals and only needed the basic tests. The cost at that time was I think $32. I lived in the area and picked up the report at the lab. Mr Low asked me to sit down and he explained what I should do to my soil for the best results. I was given four pages, three of them explanations of the report results. If you would like a copy, send me an email and I will email them to you. Al
jenn
12 years ago
Lori, did you ever get your soil tested? I'm planning to do this very soon ... we know our soil is alkaline clay, and that's the extent of it. Would be interested what you did and what you learned.
kosherbaker
12 years ago
A lot of people do their soil test at the local extension office. So maybe worth a shot checking how much they want for the area you are in.

Rudy