Travis County, TX Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Travis 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 - Travis County serves as the primary educational extension center in Travis 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 - Travis County |
| Physical Address: | 1600-B Smith Road, Austin, TX 78721 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (512) 854-9600 |
| Email Contact: | travis-tx@tamu.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://travis-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 Travis County is Texas A&M Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | Texas A&M Soil Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 2478 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $12 routine soil analysis |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://soiltesting.tamu.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Travis County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Travis County (1600-B Smith Road, Austin, TX 78721).
- 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 Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Travis County Master Gardeners provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Travis County Master Gardeners |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (512) 854-9600 |
| Program Portal: | https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/ |
Volunteer Training: Texas A&M intensive Earth-Kind horticulture program.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Travis County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 8b / 9a
Natural Soil Profile: Edwards Plateau Shallow Limestone Loam & Clay
Popular Local Crops: Peppers, herbs, native wildflowers, citrus, figs
Extension Specialist Tip: Austin area soils overlay limestone bedrocks; raised beds are recommended for shallow soil zones.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Travis County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Edwards Plateau Shallow Limestone Loam & Clay characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Travis County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Travis County Directory)
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Travis County is located at 1600-B Smith Road, Austin, TX 78721. You can call their main desk directly at (512) 854-9600 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Travis County garden samples through Texas A&M Soil Testing Laboratory costs $12 routine soil analysis. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Travis County Master Gardeners hotline by calling (512) 854-9600 during plant clinic hours (Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM).
Travis County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b / 9a. Local soil is characterized as Edwards Plateau Shallow Limestone Loam & Clay.
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.