Orange County, FL Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Orange 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 Orange County serves as the primary educational extension center in Orange 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 Orange County |
| Physical Address: | 6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando, FL 32812 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (407) 254-9200 |
| Email Contact: | orange@ifas.ufl.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/orange/ |
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 Orange County is UF/IFAS Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | UF/IFAS 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 Orange County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County (6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando, FL 32812).
- 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 Soil Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (407) 254-9200 |
| Program Portal: | https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/orange/master-gardener-volunteers/ |
Volunteer Training: University of Florida 12-week horticulture training course.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Orange County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 9b / 10a
Natural Soil Profile: Central Florida Ridge Fine Sand (Candler Soil Series)
Popular Local Crops: Citrus, blueberries, blueberries, peaches, St. Augustine grass
Extension Specialist Tip: Orlando sandy soils require organic matter additions to retain nutrients and moisture.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Orange County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Central Florida Ridge Fine Sand (Candler Soil Series) characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Orange County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Orange County Directory)
The UF/IFAS Extension Orange County is located at 6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando, FL 32812. You can call their main desk directly at (407) 254-9200 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Orange County garden samples through UF/IFAS Soil Testing Laboratory costs $10 per routine soil sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (407) 254-9200 during plant clinic hours (Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM).
Orange County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b / 10a. Local soil is characterized as Central Florida Ridge Fine Sand (Candler Soil Series).
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.