Dallas County, TX Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Dallas County, TX. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Texas's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Dallas County serves as the primary educational extension center in Dallas County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Dallas County |
| Physical Address: | 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite B-101, Dallas, TX 75229 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (214) 904-3050 |
| Email Contact: | dallas-tx@tamu.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://dallas-tx.tamu.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 Dallas County is Texas A&M Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | Texas A&M Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 2478 TAMU, Soil & Crop Sciences Dept, College Station, TX 77843 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $12 routine soil fertility analysis |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://soiltesting.tamu.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Dallas County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Dallas County (10056 Marsh Lane, Suite B-101, Dallas, TX 75229).
- 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 Texas A&M Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Dallas County Master Gardener Association provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Dallas County Master Gardener Association |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (214) 904-3053 |
| Program Portal: | https://dallascountymastergardeners.org/ |
Volunteer Training: Texas A&M 50-hour urban gardening specialist course.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Dallas County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 8b
Natural Soil Profile: Blackland Prairie Heavy Alkaline Clay (Houston Black, pH 7.5 - 8.2)
Popular Local Crops: Okra, peppers, black-eyed peas, peaches, bermudagrass
Extension Specialist Tip: Dallas black clay expands when wet and cracks when dry; incorporate expanded shale and compost.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Dallas County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Blackland Prairie Heavy Alkaline Clay (Houston Black, pH 7.5 - 8.2) characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Dallas County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Dallas County Directory)
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Dallas County is located at 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite B-101, Dallas, TX 75229. You can call their main desk directly at (214) 904-3050 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Dallas County garden samples through Texas A&M Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory costs $12 routine soil fertility analysis. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Dallas County Master Gardener Association hotline by calling (214) 904-3053 during plant clinic hours (Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM).
Dallas County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b. Local soil is characterized as Blackland Prairie Heavy Alkaline Clay (Houston Black, pH 7.5 - 8.2).
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.