Gardening Information and Soil Testing (GIST)

The URI Master Gardener Program’s trained volunteer educators are available to attend your event, answer gardening questions from event attendees and provide free soil pH testing via a “Gardening Information and Soil Testing” exhibit. Click the button below to submit a form notifying our volunteers of your request, at least a month in advance of your event.

request a GIST exhibit
URI Soil Test Form
2024 GIST Exhibit Schedule

URI Soil Testing Service

URI Master Gardener volunteers conduct free soil pH testing as a service to the residents of Rhode Island and surrounding areas from March through October. The test helps determine soil pH levels and predominant soil texture, and provides basic information and recommendations for gradual correction of soil pH and compaction issues. You have two options for testing through URI:

  1. Attend a community event where our Gardening Information and Soil Testing booth will be. See the 2024 schedule here.

  1. Mail-in your sample with a Soil Test Result Report Form. Print the form, complete it and send it along with your sample to URI Cooperative Extension, 3 East Alumni Ave, Kingston, RI 02881. Please include ‘Attn: Soil Test’ on the envelope.

URI Soil test form

Need to dig deeper?

Full nutrient analysis options:
The University of Connecticut Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory and the University of Massachusetts Soil & Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory offer in-depth soil analysis for a nominal fee. These tests determine a) Nutrient levels and fertilizer recommendations; b) Elevated lead levels or other toxic heavy metals; and c) Proper soil amendments to avoid pollution of local waterways. It is suggested to test soil every few years, and is particularly important when installing new garden beds or in established gardens that are not performing well.