Prince George's County, MD Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Prince George's County, MD. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Maryland's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The University of Maryland Extension - Prince George's County serves as the primary educational extension center in Prince George's County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | University of Maryland Extension - Prince George's County |
| Physical Address: | Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (240) 555-0199 |
| Email Contact: | prince-george-s@umd.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday โ Friday: 8:00 AM โ 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://extension.umd.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 Prince George's County is UMD Soil Testing Information & Regional Partner Labs.
| Official Testing Lab: | UMD Soil Testing Information & Regional Partner Labs |
| Lab Location: | Submittal details available at local county extension office |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $15 routine soil test |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://extension.umd.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Prince George's County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the University of Maryland Extension - Prince George's County (Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772).
- 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 UMD Soil Testing Information & Regional Partner Labs.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Prince George's County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Prince George's County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM โ 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (240) 555-0199 |
| Program Portal: | https://extension.umd.edu/ |
Volunteer Training: Comprehensive horticulture training conducted by University of Maryland Extension.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Prince George's County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6b / 8a
Natural Soil Profile: Chesapeake Coastal Plain Sandy Loam & Silt
Popular Local Crops: Sweet corn, tomatoes, blue crabs bay grasses, lawn turf
Extension Specialist Tip: Protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed by applying only nitrogen & phosphorus recommended by lab tests.
5. ๐งฎ Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Prince George's County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Chesapeake Coastal Plain Sandy Loam & Silt characteristics.
๐ Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Prince George's County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
๐ฆ Recommended Mail-In Soil Test Kits & Meters
FTC Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commissionIf you need immediate results without waiting for university mail-in lab turnaround times, these top-rated professional home soil test kits provide fast pH, N, P, and K diagnostic analysis:
MySoil Soil Test Kit
Professional mail-in kit analyzed by accredited labs. Returns 13 essential nutrient values (N, P, K, pH, Micronutrients) & customized fertilizer recommendations via app.
Luster Leaf Rapitest 1601
Popular color-comparator kit for 10 instant soil tests (pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash). Includes tailored plant preference chart.
Sonkir 3-in-1 Soil Tester
Instant probe sensor for soil moisture, pH, and sunlight levels. Requires no batteries. Perfect for potted plants, lawns, and raised beds.
๐ Request Local Extension & Lawn Testing Assistance in Prince George's County, MD
Need help interpreting your lab results or finding local agricultural extension agents? Fill out the brief form below:
Frequently Asked Questions (Prince George's County Directory)
The University of Maryland Extension - Prince George's County is located at Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772. You can call their main desk directly at (240) 555-0199 during standard business hours (Monday โ Friday: 8:00 AM โ 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Prince George's County garden samples through UMD Soil Testing Information & Regional Partner Labs costs $15 routine soil test. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Prince George's County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (240) 555-0199 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM โ 12:00 PM).
Prince George's County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b / 8a. Local soil is characterized as Chesapeake Coastal Plain Sandy Loam & Silt.