Hennepin County, MN Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Hennepin County, MN. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Minnesota's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The UMN Extension - Hennepin County serves as the primary educational extension center in Hennepin County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | UMN Extension - Hennepin County |
| Physical Address: | 479 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 250, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (612) 596-2110 |
| Email Contact: | mnext-hennepin@umn.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://extension.umn.edu/local/hennepin |
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 Hennepin County is UMN Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | UMN Soil Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 1352 Gortner Ave, 153 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $19 routine garden soil analysis |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Hennepin County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the UMN Extension - Hennepin County (479 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 250, Eden Prairie, MN 55344).
- 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 UMN Soil Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Hennepin County Master Gardeners provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Hennepin County Master Gardeners |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (612) 596-2110 |
| Program Portal: | https://hennepinmastergardeners.org/ |
Volunteer Training: UMN Extension 50-hour horticulture course.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Hennepin County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 4b / 5a
Natural Soil Profile: Glacial Till Prairie Loam
Popular Local Crops: Apples, root vegetables, brassicas, sweet corn, turf grass
Extension Specialist Tip: Cold-climate soils warm slowly in spring; add compost to improve spring soil warmth and drainage.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Hennepin County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Glacial Till Prairie Loam characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Hennepin County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Hennepin County Directory)
The UMN Extension - Hennepin County is located at 479 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 250, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. You can call their main desk directly at (612) 596-2110 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Hennepin County garden samples through UMN Soil Testing Laboratory costs $19 routine garden soil analysis. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Hennepin County Master Gardeners hotline by calling (612) 596-2110 during plant clinic hours (Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM).
Hennepin County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b / 5a. Local soil is characterized as Glacial Till Prairie 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.