Free Soil Testing Program

King Conservation District has a free soil testing program for anyone living within the District.* This program covers everything from pastures, to yards, to vegetable gardens. Each landowner is eligible for five free samples. Soil samples will be sent to a certified lab to test for pH (soil and buffered), nitrate, phosphate, extractable cations (potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium), organic matter and cation exchange capacity. King CD will send out a packet with your results and information on interpreting your soil sample.

Results are generally available within three weeks. We do not currently pay for testing of heavy metals or contaminants; please contact the office for questions on where to send those samples.

We encourage residents to gather their own soil samples and bring them to our office for processing. Please visit our Soil Sampling Instructions for details.

Whether you are growing forage for livestock, maintaining an orchard, gardening, landscaping, or managing a woodlot for wood production, proper soil sampling will allow you to:

Apply the correct amount of fertilizer for the plants you are growing.
Prevent surface and ground water from being contaminated by excess fertilizers.
Ensure that soil nutrients and other conditions (such as soil pH) affecting plant growth are present in the right amounts.

* Note: This service is available to all landowners within the District boundaries. Landowners who live within the city limits of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Skykomish, Milton and Pacific are outside the District boundaries and are unable to take advantage of this program. Residents in those cities who are interested in King CD services should contact their local elected official about the benefits of joining the Conservation District.

Soil Testing Program Fact Sheet

For additional information,
contact Jay Mirro by phone at (425) 282-1905 or by email at Jay Mirro