Hillsborough County Extension
Diagnostic Tests

Forms and instructions on soil tests, water tests, plant disease tests, nematode tests, plant or insect ID are available here.
Only soil pH testing is offered by the Hillsborough County Extension office.
Other soil testing must be sent to Gainesville. (See Soil pH - mail-in, below)

• Water Analysis  $10      Information     Submission form
• Plant disease    $20      Guidelines      Submission form
• Turf disease       $20      Instructions    Submission form
• Nematode           $12      Instructions    Submission form
• Plant ID                 n/c       Instructions & Submission form
• Insect ID               $  8      Information     Submission form
• Soil pH - mail in   $ 3     Information & Submission form
• Soil nutrients        $ 7     Information & Submission form
• Soil pH - local       $ 2     See information below

Soil pH - Local

Only soil pH testing is offered by the Hillsborough County Extension office. Other soil testing must be sent to Gainesville.(See below)

pH testing provides the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the soil and a recommendation for adjusting the pH if necessary. It does not provide information about nutrients, diseases, insects or nematodes. pH tests are conducted every Friday morning, so samples should be submitted no later than Thursday afternoon. There is a $2.00 fee for each sample. Please make checks payable to "Master Gardener Program."

How to take a soil sample: Using a trowel or shovel, take 10 "slices" of soil (4-6" deep) from the area you want to test. Combine the slices into one sample which should equal at least 1 cup of soil. Spread the soil on a piece of newspaper and allow it to dry completely before bringing or mailing the sample to the Extension Service. Be sure to note what plants are growing in the soil to be tested e.g., vegetables, citrus, St. Augustine grass, azaleas, etc.

The results of the soil test will be mailed to you early the following week.