Miami-Dade County, FL Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Miami-Dade County, FL. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Florida's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County serves as the primary educational extension center in Miami-Dade County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County |
| Physical Address: | 18710 SW 288th Street, Homestead, FL 33030 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (305) 248-3311 |
| Email Contact: | miamidade@ifas.ufl.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/miami-dade/ |
2. Official Soil Testing Laboratory & Pricing
Testing your soil is the single most important step before adding fertilizers or agricultural lime. The official testing laboratory serving Miami-Dade County is UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 1633 Archbold Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $10 per routine soil sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 7 to 10 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Miami-Dade County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County (18710 SW 288th Street, Homestead, FL 33030).
- Collect Sub-Samples: Use a clean stainless steel trowel to take 10 to 12 soil cores from a 4-to-6-inch depth across your garden or lawn area.
- Air-Dry: Mix sub-samples in a clean plastic bucket and air-dry on clean paper at room temperature (never use an oven).
- Submit Sample: Return your filled soil box to the extension office or mail directly to UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade Master Gardener Volunteers |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (305) 248-3311 |
| Program Portal: | https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/miami-dade/master-gardener-volunteers/ |
Volunteer Training: UF/IFAS tropical home horticulture certification.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Miami-Dade County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 10b / 11a
Natural Soil Profile: Alkaline Oolitic Limestone Marl & Coral Sand (pH 7.5 - 8.2)
Popular Local Crops: Mangoes, avocados, lychees, dragon fruit, papaya
Extension Specialist Tip: Miami-Dade soils are calcareous; micronutrients like chelated iron and manganese are critical.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Miami-Dade County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Alkaline Oolitic Limestone Marl & Coral Sand (pH 7.5 - 8.2) characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Miami-Dade County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Miami-Dade County Directory)
The UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County is located at 18710 SW 288th Street, Homestead, FL 33030. You can call their main desk directly at (305) 248-3311 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Miami-Dade County garden samples through UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory costs $10 per routine soil sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (305) 248-3311 during plant clinic hours (Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Miami-Dade County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10b / 11a. Local soil is characterized as Alkaline Oolitic Limestone Marl & Coral Sand (pH 7.5 - 8.2).
Written & Verified by Sahajul
Verified Author & Founder
Sahajul is an independent agricultural data researcher based in India and founder of LocalSoilLab.com. He specializes in compiling, structuring, and verifying US land-grant university extension services, soil lab testing fee schedules, and county Master Gardener contact directories directly from official .edu and USDA NIFA portals.