{"id":45532,"date":"2026-02-27T14:43:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T22:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/?page_id=45532"},"modified":"2026-03-22T14:26:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T21:26:24","slug":"soil-testing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/mg-home\/educational-outreach\/soil-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wsu-hero wsu-width--full wsu-pattern--wsu-light-radial-left  wsu-hero--size-small wsu-hero--style-boxed \">\n\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__background\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image-frame--fill\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/08\/raised-bed-garden.jpg\"\n\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/08\/raised-bed-garden.jpg 800w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/08\/raised-bed-garden.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/08\/raised-bed-garden.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/08\/raised-bed-garden.jpg 768w\"\n\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\n\t\talt=\"food garden with raised beds and wood chip pathways\"\n\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 76% 27%\"\n\t\t\/>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__overlay\">\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__inner-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"wsu-hero__title\">At Home Soil Testing<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__caption\">Helping the Earth by adding only what is needed<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-hero__content\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs \" typeof=\"BreadcrumbList\" vocab=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/\"><span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to WSU Extension.\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/\" class=\"main-home\" ><span property=\"name\">WSU Extension<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span> &gt; <span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to Snohomish County.\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\" class=\"home\" ><span property=\"name\">Snohomish County<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"2\"><\/span> &gt; <span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to News.\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/news\/\" class=\"post-root post post-post\" aria-current=\"page\"><span property=\"name\">News<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"3\"><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-card--layout-reversed wsu-card--style-horizontal-33 wsu-color-background--gray-5 wsu-border-top--color-crimson\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-4-3\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1-396x528.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1-792x1056.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2020\/06\/FederalWayCGarden-34-scaled-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Rows of lettuce are divided by thin black tubing that make up a simple, but effective drip irrigation system for easy watering and water conservation.\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 70% 49%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wsu-title \">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy test your soil?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wsu-card__content-custom\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\n<p>Master Gardeners often get the question &#8216;Why isn&#8217;t my plant healthy?&#8217;  <br>We often answer, &#8220;Have you had your soil tested?&#8217;  <br><strong>The benefits of a Soil Test: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Soil nutrients are not the same across your property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid adding unnecessary fertilizer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provides nutrient application recommendations that your soil needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifies soil pH and the possible need for liming<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shows how soil nutrient changes over the years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Having your soil tested gives you a detailed assessment of your garden soil.  The analysis provides the nutrients and quantities needed to make your garden flourish!  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading  wsu-heading--style-marked wsu-heading--mark-color-crimson\">Soil Testing Labs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Instructions about how to collect and process a soil sample are on each website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try to mail out the soil sample to lab the same day you take it. If mailing at a later date, place sample in the freezer to stop microbial activity which can cause varied test results, avoid mailing near the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-card-wrapper wsu-card-wrapper--per-row-3\" >\r\n    \n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-border-top--color-crimson wsu-color-background--gray-5\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.simplysoiltesting.com\/index.html\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soilhealthWSU.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soilhealthWSU.jpg 465w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soilhealthWSU-396x331.jpg 396w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 465px) 100vw, 465px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.simplysoiltesting.com\/index.html\">\t\t\t\tSimply Soil Testing\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tAddress: 20312 Lafayette Rd, Burlington, WA 98233<br>Phone: (360) 202-1086<br>E-mail: service@simplysoiltesting.com<br>Website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.simplysoiltesting.com\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.simplysoiltesting.com\/index.html<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wsu-card__content-custom\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><strong>For local customers, there is a drop box by the side door.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-border-top--color-crimson wsu-color-background--gray-5\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2025\/03\/Legion-Lee-half-size-1.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2025\/03\/Legion-Lee-half-size-1.jpg 748w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2025\/03\/Legion-Lee-half-size-1-396x396.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2025\/03\/Legion-Lee-half-size-1-198x198.jpg 198w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Flowers and flowers in pots.\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--xxmedium\">\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"\">\t\t\t\tUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t<\/h6>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tPhone: (413) 545-2311<br>Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.umass.edu\/services\/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory\">https:\/\/ag.umass.edu\/services\/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wsu-card__content-custom\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-border-top--color-crimson wsu-color-background--gray-5\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soil-crossection-istock.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCornell University\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\t<br>Website: <a href=\"http:\/\/soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu\/\">http:\/\/soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu\/<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wsu-card__content-custom\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-border-top--color-crimson wsu-color-background--gray-5\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/dogtoothlillyMarch.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/dogtoothlillyMarch.jpg 449w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/dogtoothlillyMarch-396x240.jpg 396w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWestern Laboratories, Inc.\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tWebsite: <a href=\"https:\/\/westernlaboratories.com\/\">https:\/\/westernlaboratories.com\/<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-border-top--color-crimson wsu-color-background--gray-5\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soilwsu.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soilwsu.jpg 505w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/02\/soilwsu-396x370.jpg 396w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Snohomish Conservation District \t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tMay provide soil testing, often at no charge under certain circumstances, for property within its district. <br>Address: 528 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258<br>Phone: 425-335-5634<br>E-mail: outreach@snohomishcd.org<br>Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/snohomishcd.org\/\">https:\/\/snohomishcd.org\/<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wsu-card__content-custom\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--halves\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-card--style-horizontal-33 wsu-color-background--gray-5 wsu-border-top--color-crimson\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-4-3\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2024\/05\/Sehmel-Compost.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2024\/05\/Sehmel-Compost.jpg 465w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2024\/05\/Sehmel-Compost-396x545.jpg 396w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 465px) 100vw, 465px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 70% 49%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wsu-title \">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdditional Information\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wsu-card__content-custom\">\r\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/video_soilsampling\/\">Video: How to take a soil sample<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu\/ec628\">Guide to taking soil samples for farms and gardens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/a-home-gardeners-guide-to-soils-and-fertilizers-home-garden-series\">Home Gardeners guide to soils and fertilizing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3.wp.wsu.edu\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/SS_UnderstandSoilTests.pdf\">Understanding soil tests<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\" wsu-font-size--xxmedium\"><strong>Your soil is the key to a successful garden. <\/strong><br><strong>Happy soil = Happy plants!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n        <div id=\"cahnrs-back-to-top\" class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top\" hidden aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <a id=\"cahnrs-back-to-top-btn\" class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top__btn\" href=\"#product-top\" aria-label=\"Back to top\">\n                <span class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2191<\/span>\n                <span class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top__label\">Back to top<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soil Testing Labs Instructions about how to collect and process a soil sample are on each website. Try to mail out the soil sample to lab the same day you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":338,"featured_media":0,"parent":42325,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_expiration_date":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45532"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/338"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45532"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45532\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45851,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45532\/revisions\/45851"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/snohomish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}