ALABAMA· UNIVERSITY & EXTENSION LABS
Where to get a soil test in Alabama
A soil test is how you stop guessing at fertilizer and fix the one thing your lawn actually needs. In Alabama, the public program below tests homeowner samples and interprets the results for local soils.
ALABAMA STATE LAB
Auburn University Soil, Forage & Water Testing Lab
Auburn/Extension lab for Alabama soil samples.
Visit the lab & sampling instructions →County drop-off & extension offices
County extension offices across Alabama hand out sample forms and can walk you through submitting to the lab. 8 of the most populous counties are listed below.
Alabama Extension, Jefferson County office
Birmingham, AL
Alabama Extension, Madison County office
Huntsville, AL
Alabama Extension, Mobile County office
Mobile, AL
Alabama Extension, Montgomery County office
Montgomery, AL
Alabama Extension, Shelby County office
Columbiana, AL
Alabama Extension, Baldwin County office
Bay Minette, AL
Alabama Extension, Tuscaloosa County office
Tuscaloosa, AL
Alabama Extension, Lee County office
Opelika, AL
Not your county? Find your local office in the full Alabama directory.
How it works
- 01
Get a form and sample the way your lab says to
Pick up a form at a county office or download it from Auburn University Soil, Forage & Water Testing Lab. Where you pull cores and how you mix them decides whether the report means anything, so follow the lab's instructions exactly.
- 02
Send it in
Mail your sample to the lab with its completed form. County offices can help if you get stuck.
- 03
Turn the report into a plan
When results come back, the numbers only matter if they change what you put down. Enter them in the app and it builds the plan.
THE APP · SOIL REPORT ANALYZER
Got your Alabama report back? Analyze it.
Enter your report values in the Lawn Dominator app and pick your lab, and it handles the messy part: units and extraction methods differ by lab, so your numbers get compared against turf targets that match how your lab measured them. Then it helps build the fertilizer plan for your grass type and checks timing against your live soil temperature.
Free to download on iPhone and Android.
Common questions
- Where can I get a soil test in Alabama?
- Alabama's public soil testing is run through Auburn University Soil, Forage & Water Testing Lab. Many county extension offices (listed on this page) stock the sample forms and can help you submit. National mail-in labs like Logan Labs, Ward Laboratories, and Waypoint Analytical are established alternatives.
- How much does a soil test cost in Alabama?
- Fees vary by lab and by which package you choose (basic pH plus phosphorus and potassium, versus expanded panels with organic matter and micronutrients). Check Auburn University Soil, Forage & Water Testing Lab for current pricing before you send a sample; the page linked here is the authority for its own fees.
- How do I turn my Alabama soil test into a fertilizer plan?
- Enter your report values in the Lawn Dominator app and pick your lab so units and extraction method are handled correctly, and it compares your numbers against turf sufficiency targets and helps build the fertilizer plan for your grass type.
Looking for another state? See the national map of soil test labs. Auburn University Soil, Forage & Water Testing Lab is the authority for its own test menu, sampling instructions, fees, and result interpretation.