Milwaukee County, WI Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Milwaukee County, WI. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin-Madison Extension - Milwaukee County serves as the primary educational extension center in Milwaukee County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension - Milwaukee County |
| Physical Address: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (550) 555-0199 |
| Email Contact: | milwaukee@wisc.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday โ Friday: 8:00 AM โ 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://uwlab.soils.wisc.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 Milwaukee County is UW Soil and Forage Analysis Lab.
| Official Testing Lab: | UW Soil and Forage Analysis Lab |
| Lab Location: | 4702 S. Buroker Road, Marshfield, WI 54449 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $15 per routine soil sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Milwaukee County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension - Milwaukee County (Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202).
- 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 UW Soil and Forage Analysis Lab.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Milwaukee County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Milwaukee 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: | (550) 555-0199 |
| Program Portal: | https://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/ |
Volunteer Training: Comprehensive horticulture training conducted by University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Milwaukee County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 3b / 5b
Natural Soil Profile: Glacial Silt Loam & Central Sands
Popular Local Crops: Cranberries, sweet corn, potatoes, apples, dairy forage
Extension Specialist Tip: Wisconsin soils range from heavy silt loams to sandy soils; test to prevent nutrient runoff.
5. ๐งฎ Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Milwaukee County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Glacial Silt Loam & Central Sands characteristics.
๐ Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County, WI
Need help interpreting your lab results or finding local agricultural extension agents? Fill out the brief form below:
Frequently Asked Questions (Milwaukee County Directory)
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension - Milwaukee County is located at Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. You can call their main desk directly at (550) 555-0199 during standard business hours (Monday โ Friday: 8:00 AM โ 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Milwaukee County garden samples through UW Soil and Forage Analysis Lab costs $15 per routine soil sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Milwaukee County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (550) 555-0199 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM โ 12:00 PM).
Milwaukee County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3b / 5b. Local soil is characterized as Glacial Silt Loam & Central Sands.