To address acidic soil and dying plants, reach out to your local Cooperative Extension Office. They are the most recommended source for accurate, location-specific soil testing and customized amendment plans. If you prefer a full-service approach, private companies like ExperiGreen offer testing and application services, though these are typically more expensive than the testing provided through public extension services or private laboratories.
=1ExperiGreen Lawn CareA practical option if you prefer professional, full-service lawn care that includes testing and the physical application of lime. Note that this is generally more expensive than DIY or extension services.20%
When your garden soil is too acidic (low pH), toxic elements like aluminum can become over-available while essential nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium lock up, starving your plants.
To fix this accurately, you need a professional lab test to tell you exactly how much liming material (like agricultural limestone) your specific soil texture requires.
Where to Get Professional Soil Analysis & Custom Plans
Local University Extension Office (Most Affordable & Accurate)
Why choose them: They provide cheap, highly accurate, research-based fertilizer and pH-correction lime recommendations tailored specifically to your regional soil types and what you intend to grow.
How to find them: Search for your local county extension office or land-grant university agricultural extension website.
Dealing with highly acidic soil can quickly stress or kill plants because low pH locks out essential nutrients while potentially increasing toxic elements like aluminum. Fortunately, several reliable options provide professional soil analysis paired with custom amendment and liming plans.
Top Options for Soil Analysis & Custom Amendments
Local University Extension Offices
What they do: Most land-grant universities operate low-cost public soil testing laboratories. You mail or drop off a sample, and they provide a detailed breakdown of your pH, buffer pH, nutrient levels, and a precise prescription for how much agricultural lime (or other amendments) you need to fix the acidity for your specific crops.
Consultree - 8905 Sony Ln SW, Knoxville, TN 37923, United States
Seeds of Change Landscaping & Lawn Care - 419 N Forest Park Blvd Ste 300, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
Grover Turf Care - 1301 Spring Hill Rd, Knoxville, TN 37914, United States
Better Nature - Knoxville, TN 37919
Stanley's Greenhouse - 3029 Davenport Rd, Knoxville, TN 37920, United States
Knox Farmers Co-Op Halls - 3903 Fountain Valley Dr, Knoxville, TN 37918, United States
Willow Ridge Garden Center & Landscaping - 97 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, United States
Knoxville Seed & Greenhouse - 5001 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914, United States
Thress Nursery Gardens - 7343 Old Clinton Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921, United States
Dickens Turf & Landscape Supply - 4718 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
Kirby Plants - 7234 Oak Ridge Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37931, United States
Ellenburg Landscaping & Nursery - 722 Vanosdale Rd, Knoxville, TN 37909, United States
Knox Farmer's - 3903 Fountain Valley Dr, Knoxville, TN 37918
RecShield - 11109 Lake Ridge Dr, Knoxville, TN 37934, United States
AgCentral Coop - 3939 US-411, Maryville, TN 37801, United States
Pope's Garden Center - 8718 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37922, United States
Since you appear to be in the Knoxville, TN area, these are some options for soil analysis plus a custom amendment plan (rather than just buying lime or fertilizer and guessing):
Research-based soil testing and recommendations
Knox County Extension Office — A good first stop for a garden problem. They provide soil sample boxes/instructions and send samples to the University of Tennessee Soil, Plant and Pest Center for analysis. The results include recommendations such as lime needs for acidic soil.
Soil testing is usually the best starting point because adding too much lime can create other nutrient problems.
K-TESST — A Knoxville-area educational soil testing program offering kits that include soil pH and nutrient-related testing.
Companies that can diagnose and build a treatment plan
Consultree — Offers soil fertility programs based on soil testing, with custom recommendations for tree and shrub health.
Seeds of Change Landscaping & Lawn Care — Offers soil sampling and laboratory analysis as part of turf/landscape diagnostics, with corrective work based on site conditions.
Grover Turf Care — Provides soil testing/analysis and soil-correction approaches for lawn and landscape issues.
Better Nature — Focuses on ecological landscaping and soil health services, including soil testing and restoration support.
Garden centers that may help you source amendments
Stanley's Greenhouse — Carries soil products and amendments and can be a useful local resource for plant-specific advice.
For acidic soil with dying plants, I’d start with a lab soil test that reports at least:
pH
lime requirement (buffer pH)
calcium and magnesium
phosphorus and potassium
organic matter
Then choose amendments based on the results—many East Tennessee soils need more than just pH correction (such as organic matter improvement or drainage fixes).
If you tell me whether this is a vegetable garden, lawn, flower beds, or shrubs/trees (and your approximate area of Knoxville), I can narrow the list to the most suitable providers.
How to access: Find your local branch through the USDA Cooperative Extension System Finder or search for your state's university extension soil lab.
Commercial Agricultural & Garden Labs
What they do: Private laboratories offer comprehensive analytical packages that test macro/micronutrients, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity alongside detailed custom fertilizer and lime recommendations.
What they do: Local nurseries often partner with regional labs or offer in-house testing/consultation. For larger or severely distressed yards, local private agronomists or soil consultants can visit your property to build comprehensive remediation blueprints.[1]
Quick Fix Strategy for Acidic Soil
To raise your soil pH safely, you will typically need to apply agricultural limestone (dolomitic or calcitic lime).
Do not guess the amount: adding too much lime too fast can shock plants and lock up different nutrients.
Wait for your lab results to get the exact pounds-per-1000-square-feet dosage tailored to your soil's buffer capacity.
If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:
What state or region you are located in (so I can point you directly to your local extension office)
What kinds of plants are dying (vegetables, lawn, or specific shrubs/trees)
University of Florida Lee County Extension Office - 3410 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916, United States
Arborology Inc - 1926 NW 16th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33993, United States
Lifescapes Landcare - Fort Myers, FL 33916
US Cooperative Extension Services - 3406 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916, United States
UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County - 1120 Centennial Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33953, United States
UF/IFAS Collier Extension, Naples FL - 14700 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34120, United States
Cooperative Extension Services - 1085 Pratt Blvd, LaBelle, FL 33935, United States
Arborology - Cape Coral, FL
Urban Horticulture - 14700 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34120, United States
Arborology - Cape Coral, FL 33993
GoMulch.com Landscape Supply Store - 4353 Michigan Link, Fort Myers, FL 33916, United States
GreenView Aquaponics Family Farm and Apiary - 4160 Old Burnt Store Rd N, Cape Coral, FL 33993, United States
Coastal Lawn and Pest - 412 SW 2nd Terrace Suite 1, Cape Coral, FL 33991, United States
If you’re in the Cape Coral / Lee County area, you have a couple of good options:
University of Florida Lee County Extension Office — probably the best starting point for a homeowner. Their Master Gardener/Yard & Garden Helpline can help diagnose plant problems, and they offer basic soil pH/EC testing. They can also help you submit samples to the UF/IFAS Soil Testing Laboratory.
UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory — provides Florida-specific soil analysis. For home gardens, the tests can include pH, lime requirement, and nutrient levels, with lime/fertilizer recommendations tailored to the crop you identify.
Arborology Inc — a Cape Coral plant-health/arborist company that advertises soil and plant-tissue analysis and treatment programs for trees, palms, and ornamentals. This is worth considering if you're looking for someone to come to the property and develop a treatment plan, rather than just sending a sample to a lab.
One important caution
Don't add lime just because you suspect acidity. UF/IFAS specifically recommends testing first, because Florida soils can range from acidic to alkaline and excessive lime or sulfur can damage plants.
For your situation, I'd ask for a full soil fertility test with pH and lime requirement, rather than a simple pH strip. The UF/IFAS test can tell you whether lime is actually needed and how much, while also checking nutrients that could explain why the plants are declining.
If you tell me whether these are vegetables, flowers/shrubs, fruit trees, or lawn, I can narrow this down to the most appropriate local service and what test to request.
Gardeners Supply Inc - 2920 Landco Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
Cal-Tree Services and Landscaping, Inc. - 2708 El Berrendo Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93304, United States
Holloway Agriculture - 13850 Holloway Rd, Lost Hills, CA 93249, United States
The Holloway Group - 5060 California Ave Ste 710, Bakersfield, CA 93309, United States
Wonderful Laboratories - Ag Chem Division - 401n Zerker Rd S, Shafter, CA 93263, United States
Pace Analytical - 4100 Atlas Ct, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
Agriserve Inc. - 3900 Raider Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93304
H M Holloway Inc - Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
American Ag Inc. - 6701 McDivitt Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93313, United States
Unico Ag - 6507 Coturri Ct, Bakersfield, CA 93312, United States
BSK Associates - Bakersfield Office - 4820 Rosedale Ln, Bakersfield, CA 93314, United States
Zalco Laboratories Inc - 4309 Armour Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
AB Tree Doctor - 1201 24th St Ste B110-279, Bakersfield, CA 93301, United States
Valley Tech Ag Laboratory - 2120 S K St, Tulare, CA 93274, United States
MyLand - California Soil Health Outpost - 3980 Saco Rd # G, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
If you’re in the Bakersfield area, there are several good options. For a home garden, I’d start with a provider that can both test the soil and interpret the results rather than simply selling you lime or another amendment.
Gardeners Supply Inc — Probably the best fit for a residential garden. They offer soil testing, including pH, and residential soil analysis/remediation, with pH-correcting amendments and soil renovation. Their site says they can test pH, calcium, density/porosity and apply appropriate amendments.
Cal-Tree Services and Landscaping, Inc. — A local landscape/tree-care company that also offers soil testing and plant-nutrition support. This could be useful if you're trying to diagnose why established trees or shrubs are dying, not just improve a vegetable bed.
Holloway Agriculture / The Holloway Group — More agriculture-oriented, but they have professional agronomists who collect soil samples, send them to accredited labs, interpret the results and make custom amendment recommendations.
One important point: don't automatically add lime because you suspect acidity. A soil test should establish pH and ideally EC/salts, calcium, magnesium, sodium, organic matter and nutrient levels. A full chemistry test can then support plant-specific amendment recommendations.
If you tell me what you're growing (vegetables, citrus, fruit trees, ornamentals, lawn, etc.) and roughly how large the garden is, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and tell you exactly what soil test to request.
Dealing with highly acidic soil can quickly stress or kill plants because it locks out essential nutrients and makes toxic elements (like aluminum) more available. Fortunately, several reliable options exist for getting a professional soil analysis paired with a custom amendment plan.
1. Local University Cooperative Extension Offices (Best Value & Local Expertise)
Almost every U.S. state has a university-backed agricultural extension service that runs or partners with a state soil testing lab.
How it works: You collect a core sample from your garden, fill out a form specifying what you are trying to grow (e.g., vegetables, lawn, acid-loving vs. neutral plants), and mail or drop it off.
The Plan: They test your exact pH, buffer pH, and nutrient levels, then send back a detailed report telling you precisely how much agricultural lime (or other amendments) you need per 100 square feet to reach your target pH.
Cost: Typically very affordable ($15 to $30). You can find your local office through state-by-state directories like the Cooperative Extension Labs Guide.
If your local extension is hard to navigate or you want a modern, streamlined digital dashboard, commercial mail-in kits are widely available at garden centers or online.
SoilKit: You purchase a physical kit, scoop your soil into the provided bag, and mail it using the pre-paid postage envelope. They process it in an agricultural lab and email you results via their digital platform with precise, brand-name product recommendations and quantities to fix your pH.[2]
MySoil Test Kit: Similar mail-in service that tests for 13 nutrients and pH, delivering results to an online dashboard within a week with tailored amendment steps.
Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply: They offer a Grow Organic Complete Soil Analysis geared toward organic gardeners, providing deep diagnostic data on trace minerals, pH, and organic balance.[1]
3. Independent Agricultural Labs
Independent labs like Logan Labs or regional commercial soil labs cater heavily to serious growers, farmers, and advanced horticulturists.
While some labs just give you the raw numbers, secondary services (like Plant Brix or independent crop consultants) charge a fee to take raw Logan Labs data and build a Custom Soil Test Analysis and organic amendment strategy.[1]
If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:
What state or region you are located in (so I can help point you directly to your local university extension)
Dealing with overly acidic soil (pH < 6.0 for most common garden plants) locks out essential nutrients and can quickly cause plants to decline. Several reliable public and private entities provide professional soil testing and actionable, custom amendment plans.
1. Local University Extension Offices (Best Value & Localized)
What they do: Most land-grant universities operate state agricultural testing labs. You take a core sample from your garden, mail or drop it off, and receive a thorough breakdown of your soil's pH, buffer pH (how much lime it will take to raise the pH), organic matter, and exact custom amendment recommendations.
Cost: Typically very affordable ($15 to $40 per sample).
How to find them: Find your local branch using the USDA Cooperative Extension System Locator or check state-specific portals like the UMN Extension Soil Testing Lab or OSU Extension Service.
2. Private Agricultural & Commercial Soil Labs
What they do: Private commercial laboratories offer advanced testing (including Mehlich-III extractions, micronutrient balances, and saturated paste tests) with digital dashboards and tailored prescription plans.
Cost: Range from $30 for mail-in consumer kits up to several hundred dollars for comprehensive on-site commercial consultations (such as packages via SD Microbes).[1][2]
Examples: Logan Laboratories, Waypoint Analytical, or consumer-accessible pro-grade mail-in kits available online.
3. Independent Local Nurseries & Garden Centers
What they do: Many high-end local independent garden centers partner with regional labs or offer basic in-house pH strip/meter testing. While they might not generate a multi-page laboratory report, their staff can usually translate a lab printout into a custom shopping list of agricultural lime or wood ash to safely raise your specific soil pH.
If you share your general location (state or region) and what types of plants are struggling , I can help you find your specific local extension office or advise on how much agricultural lime you might need once you get your numbers.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County - 3 W Main St #112, Elmsford, NY 10523, United States
Botanical Solutions LLC - 28 Deveau Rd, North Salem, NY 10560, United States
Homegrown Kitchen Gardens - 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County - 10 Patriot Hills Ln, Stony Point, NY 10980, United States
Cornell Cooperative Extension - 832 Merrick Ave, East Meadow, NY 11554, United States
SHD Landscaping Company Inc. - 433 West St, Port Chester, NY 10573, United States
Lawn Squad of Westchester - 445 Hamilton Ave 11th Floor, Suite 41, White Plains, NY 10601, United States
Compostwerks LLC - 487 E Main St #160, Mt Kisco, NY 10549, United States
Organic Solutions, Inc - 82a S Bayles Ave, Port Washington, NY 11050, United States
Since you’re in the Port Chester, NY area, these are good options for soil testing plus a targeted amendment plan (rather than just adding lime and hoping):
Soil testing + science-based recommendations
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County — A strong first stop for homeowners. They offer horticulture diagnostics, in-house pH testing with amendment recommendations, and can help arrange more detailed lab testing for nutrients and other soil issues.
Good for: identifying why plants are failing (acid pH, nutrient lockout, deficiencies, disease issues) before spending money on amendments.
Concha Landscaping — A local horticulture-focused service that lists soil testing for soil type, mineral deficiencies, and pH assessment, which can be useful if you want someone to evaluate the garden on-site.
Botanical Solutions LLC — Offers plant-health services built around soil testing, nutrient availability, organic matter, soil composition, and customized fertilization/amendment approaches.
What to ask for when you call
Ask specifically for:
A soil pH test (confirm how acidic it is)
A complete nutrient analysis (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, micronutrients)
Organic matter and soil texture testing if drainage or compaction may be involved
A written recommendation for: - lime type and application rate (if acidity is the issue)
compost/organic matter needs
fertilizer or mineral corrections
plant choices suited to the corrected soil
Avoid applying large amounts of lime without a test—too much can push soil too alkaline and create new nutrient problems. Soil tests are used to determine the correct amount of lime or other amendments rather than guessing.
If you’d like, I can also help you find the closest provider that will come to your garden, take samples, and deliver a written amendment plan rather than having you mail soil yourself.
Turf Dietitian - 9270 W Indiantown Rd C8, Jupiter, FL 33478, United States
PurLawn - 3861 Wry Rd, Greenacres, FL 33467, United States
ECS Florida, LLC - 2000 Avenue P #3, West Palm Beach, FL 33404, United States
Allterra Engineering & Testing - 3866 Prospect Ave #9, West Palm Beach, FL 33404, United States
Terracon Consultants Inc - 1480 Skees Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33411, United States
Tierra South Florida, Inc - 2765 Vista Pkwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33411, United States
UES - 3921 Westgate Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, United States
Thomas Geotechnical Services - 4457 Purdy Ln, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, United States
Ardaman & Associates - 2200 N Florida Mango Rd #101, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, United States
Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization & Pest Control - 1820 W 10th St, Riviera Beach, FL 33404, United States
If you’re in the West Palm Beach / Palm Beach County area, there are a few good routes. One important point: if the soil is genuinely too acidic (low pH), you generally want a test that measures pH and lime requirement, rather than simply adding lime and hoping for the best.
Best independent option: UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory. Their Florida-calibrated testing can measure pH and lime requirement; the more comprehensive homeowner test also measures P, K, Ca, Mg and several micronutrients. UF/IFAS specifically recommends separate samples for different garden areas.
Local advice: UF/IFAS Extension Palm Beach County. Their Master Gardener volunteers can help interpret results and advise on sampling. The horticulture help desk is at 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, and the hotline is 561-233-1750.
Turf Dietitian — Jupiter-based agronomic consulting that advertises soil chemistry testing, including pH, CEC, nutrients and organic matter, with recommendations based on the results. This is a particularly good fit if you want a diagnosis + customized amendment program, rather than just a lab report.
— Greenacres-based lawn service offering soil testing and customized lawn treatment; their service area includes much of Palm Beach County.
My pick: Start with UF/IFAS testing if you want an unbiased diagnosis, then have the results interpreted by the Extension office or a horticultural consultant. That avoids paying someone to recommend amendments before knowing what's actually wrong.
Also, don't add lime yet. If plants are dying, the problem could be something other than pH—nutrient imbalance, poor drainage, root disease, salt buildup, or irrigation problems can produce similar symptoms.
If you tell me what plants are dying and roughly where in Palm Beach County you are, I can narrow this to the 3 best local providers that will actually come to your garden, collect samples, and give you a custom amendment plan.
University cooperative extension offices, specialized agricultural testing laboratories, and select mail-order nursery supply companies offer comprehensive soil analysis and custom amendment recommendations. [1][2]
To fix overly acidic soil (which locks out essential nutrients and causes plant decline), you need an accurate lab test to determine your exact pH and buffer capacity, followed by a precise liming prescription (usually using agricultural limestone).
Where to Get Soil Analysis and Custom Recommendations
Local University Cooperative Extension Offices: Most US land-grant universities operate low-cost soil testing labs or can process local samples. They provide tailored, region-specific amendment guidance based on local climate and soil types. Check your state university's extension website for submission forms and instructions.
Independent Agricultural Testing Labs: Laboratories like Logan Labs perform detailed standard and extra soil scans. Gardeners often pair these raw lab results with calculation tools like OrganiCalc to generate custom organic amendment plans.[1]
Nursery and Supply Companies: Retailers such as Peaceful Valley Farm Supply provide complete mail-in soil analysis kits that return measured breakdowns of organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity, and specific nutrient excesses or deficiencies.[1][2]
Watch this short video to learn more about managing soil balance and fixing problem soils:
If you share your state or general region , I can help locate your closest university extension service or recommend a specific testing protocol suited to your local crops.
Lifescapes Landcare — serves Cape Coral and surrounding counties and advertises soil testing with pH correction and landscape-care programs.
Wonderful Laboratories - Ag Chem Division — Good choice if you primarily need a detailed laboratory analysis. They test agricultural soil, plant tissue and irrigation water; you'd then want an agronomist/gardener to turn the results into a home-garden amendment plan.
Homegrown Kitchen Gardens — Offers soil health restoration services that include soil testing, interpretation, a written amendment plan, and installation help.
PurLawn
Floridist — offers soil testing, interpretation and a site-specific amendment strategy, including pH correction and organic-matter amendments, with optional application.
Florida Tree Medics — another option if dying plants include trees, palms or larger ornamentals; they advertise lab testing followed by a written custom fertilization/amendment plan and pH correction.
