Fayette County, KY Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Fayette County, KY. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Kentucky's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The UK Cooperative Extension - Fayette County serves as the primary educational extension center in Fayette County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | UK Cooperative Extension - Fayette County |
| Physical Address: | 1140 Red Mile Place, Lexington, KY 40504 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (859) 257-5582 |
| Email Contact: | fayette.ext@uky.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://fayette.ca.uky.edu/ |
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 Fayette County is UK Regulatory Services Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | UK Regulatory Services Soil Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 103 Regulatory Services Bldg, Lexington, KY 40546 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $7 per routine sample for KY residents |
| Expected Turnaround: | 3 to 5 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://rs.ca.uky.edu/soil |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Fayette County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the UK Cooperative Extension - Fayette County (1140 Red Mile Place, Lexington, KY 40504).
- 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 UK Regulatory Services Soil Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Fayette County Extension Master Gardeners provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Fayette County Extension Master Gardeners |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (859) 257-5582 |
| Program Portal: | https://fayette.ca.uky.edu/mastergardener |
Volunteer Training: University of Kentucky 12-week horticulture course.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Fayette County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6b / 7a
Natural Soil Profile: Bluegrass Limestone Silt Loam (Maury Soil Series)
Popular Local Crops: Bluegrass turf, berries, tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn
Extension Specialist Tip: Kentucky limestone soils are rich in natural phosphorus; focus fertilizer testing on nitrogen and potassium.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Fayette County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Bluegrass Limestone Silt Loam (Maury Soil Series) characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Fayette County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Fayette County Directory)
The UK Cooperative Extension - Fayette County is located at 1140 Red Mile Place, Lexington, KY 40504. You can call their main desk directly at (859) 257-5582 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Fayette County garden samples through UK Regulatory Services Soil Testing Laboratory costs $7 per routine sample for KY residents. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Fayette County Extension Master Gardeners hotline by calling (859) 257-5582 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Fayette County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b / 7a. Local soil is characterized as Bluegrass Limestone Silt Loam (Maury 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.