Marion County, IN Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Marion County, IN. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Indiana's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The Purdue Extension - Marion County serves as the primary educational extension center in Marion County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | Purdue Extension - Marion County |
| Physical Address: | 1200 E. 42nd Street, Suite 130, Indianapolis, IN 46205 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (317) 275-9286 |
| Email Contact: | marionext@purdue.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://extension.purdue.edu/county/marion/ |
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 Marion County is Purdue Extension Recommended Soil Testing Network.
| Official Testing Lab: | Purdue Extension Recommended Soil Testing Network |
| Lab Location: | 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $15 per routine garden soil sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://extension.purdue.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Marion County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Purdue Extension - Marion County (1200 E. 42nd Street, Suite 130, Indianapolis, IN 46205).
- 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 Purdue Extension Recommended Soil Testing Network.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Purdue Extension Master Gardeners Marion County provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Purdue Extension Master Gardeners Marion County |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (317) 275-9286 |
| Program Portal: | https://indygardeners.org/ |
Volunteer Training: Purdue University Extension 40-hour horticulture course.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Marion County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6a
Natural Soil Profile: Glacial Till Silt Loam & Clay Loam
Popular Local Crops: Corn, soybeans, tomatoes, melons, cool-season turf
Extension Specialist Tip: Indiana clay soils benefit from autumn compost applications to loosen soil texture.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Marion County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Glacial Till Silt Loam & Clay Loam characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Marion County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Marion County Directory)
The Purdue Extension - Marion County is located at 1200 E. 42nd Street, Suite 130, Indianapolis, IN 46205. You can call their main desk directly at (317) 275-9286 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Marion County garden samples through Purdue Extension Recommended Soil Testing Network costs $15 per routine garden soil sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Purdue Extension Master Gardeners Marion County hotline by calling (317) 275-9286 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Marion County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a. Local soil is characterized as Glacial Till Silt Loam & Clay Loam.
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.