Franklin County, OH Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Franklin County, OH. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Ohio's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The OSU Extension - Franklin County serves as the primary educational extension center in Franklin County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | OSU Extension - Franklin County |
| Physical Address: | 530 W. Spring Street, Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (614) 866-6900 |
| Email Contact: | franklin@osu.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://franklin.osu.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 Franklin County is OSU Extension Recommended Soil Testing Partner Labs.
| Official Testing Lab: | OSU Extension Recommended Soil Testing Partner Labs |
| Lab Location: | 2021 Coffey Road, Kottman Hall, Columbus, OH 43210 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $15 per routine garden sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://extension.osu.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Franklin County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the OSU Extension - Franklin County (530 W. Spring Street, Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215).
- 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 OSU Extension Recommended Soil Testing Partner Labs.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Franklin County Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Franklin County Master Gardener Volunteers |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (614) 866-6900 |
| Program Portal: | https://franklin.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers |
Volunteer Training: 50 hours of Ohio State University Extension instruction.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Franklin County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6a
Natural Soil Profile: High-Lime Glacial Till Silt Loam and Clay Loam
Popular Local Crops: Corn, soybeans, tomatoes, apples, cool-season turf
Extension Specialist Tip: Central Ohio soils are derived from limestone; check soil pH before adding extra lime.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Franklin County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local High-Lime Glacial Till Silt Loam and Clay Loam characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Franklin County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Franklin County Directory)
The OSU Extension - Franklin County is located at 530 W. Spring Street, Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215. You can call their main desk directly at (614) 866-6900 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Franklin County garden samples through OSU Extension Recommended Soil Testing Partner Labs costs $15 per routine garden sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Franklin County Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (614) 866-6900 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM).
Franklin County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a. Local soil is characterized as High-Lime Glacial Till Silt Loam and 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.