MARYLAND· UNIVERSITY & EXTENSION LABS
Where to get a soil test in Maryland
A soil test is how you stop guessing at fertilizer and fix the one thing your lawn actually needs. In Maryland, the public program below tests homeowner samples and interprets the results for local soils.
MARYLAND STATE LAB
University of Maryland Extension soil testing resources
UMD Extension list of soil testing labs.
Visit the lab & sampling instructions →County drop-off & extension offices
County extension offices across Maryland hand out sample forms and can walk you through submitting to the lab. 24 of the most populous counties are listed below.
University of Maryland Extension, Allegany County office
Cumberland, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Anne Arundel County office
Gambrills, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Baltimore City office
Baltimore, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Baltimore County office
Cockeysville, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Calvert County office
Prince Frederick, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Caroline County office
Denton, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Carroll County office
Westminster, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Cecil County office
Elkton, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Charles County office
Bel Alton, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Dorchester County office
Cambridge, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Frederick County office
Frederick, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Garrett County office
Oakland, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Harford County office
Street, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Howard County office
Columbia, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Kent County office
Chestertown, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Montgomery County office
Derwood, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Prince George's County office
Clinton, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Queen Anne's County office
Centreville, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Somerset County office
Princess Anne, MD
University of Maryland Extension, St. Mary's County office
Leonardtown, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Talbot County office
Easton, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Washington County office
Boonsboro, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Wicomico County office
Salisbury, MD
University of Maryland Extension, Worcester County office
Snow Hill, MD
Not your county? Find your local office in the full Maryland 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 University of Maryland Extension soil testing resources. 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 Maryland 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 Maryland?
- Maryland's public soil testing is run through University of Maryland Extension soil testing resources. 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 Maryland?
- 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 University of Maryland Extension soil testing resources for current pricing before you send a sample; the page linked here is the authority for its own fees.
- How do I turn my Maryland 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. University of Maryland Extension soil testing resources is the authority for its own test menu, sampling instructions, fees, and result interpretation.