(testing a small soil sample for pH levels)
(in-depth testing including moisture content, structure and organic makeup)
Cost to test a soil varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from landscapers in your city.
The average cost to test a soil is around $1,200.
Knowing what is in the soil around your home and garden can have a big impact on both your family’s health and your landscaping efforts. Whether you’re considering a renovation project, digging for a well, or simply adding new plantings around your home, having the soil tested 1 can alert you to possible problems. Considering the costs of dealing with problems (like an infected water supply) if soil issues go untreated, it is well worth the cost of these basic tests.
For about $1,200, you can do a basic level of testing that will tell you what kind of soil you are dealing with, what chemicals and minerals are found there, if there is any type of nutrient depletion, and what level of contamination (if any) is present.
Soil testing isn’t something most homeowners give much thought to. But it is an essential step before commencing any major project that requires digging. Here are just a few examples of when soil testing is necessary:
There are a lot of good reasons to have the soil tested on your property before taking the time and money to start a construction project or even plant a garden. Depending on the size of the construction project, the local municipality may require soil testing before any permits or licenses are approved.
Soil testing will help you keep your family safe. If you have a well, it is vital that you have your soil tested at least once a year to ensure that the water is safe, and remains that way. All kinds of nasty things can leach into the groundwater and contaminate your well. This includes dangerous chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria. Finding problems before you start any type of construction project will ultimately save you money. Trying to install an inground pool or build a two-story deck on soil that can not sustain it will only end up with you needing to redo (or even scrap entirely) parts of the project, and paying big bucks for it.
Finding the best place to drill a well or install a sewer system takes a certain amount of knowledge. So does installing an inground pool or building an addition onto your home. Understanding the makeup of the soil on the property can help to find the best locations for any addition.
Testing your soil can also help you choose the best garden plants. Different kinds of plants thrive in different environments. The same is true for the soil it is planted in. Trying to grow some flowers, bushes, or trees in certain kinds of soil will result in failure. Once you know what type of soil you have to work with, your landscape professional can help you choose the perfect plants to adorn your property. Something as simple as a pH level that is off can affect how well your garden grows. Make it thrive by giving your plants the best mix of minerals. This means knowing what is in your soil and finding ways to alter its composition if needed.
While the benefits of soil testing are plentiful, there are some disadvantages to the process that homeowners need to be aware of before starting the process. For one, it can be pricey, depending on what types of tests you run. While the average soil tests run about $1,000, the process can run several thousands if you find yourself in need of more in-depth reports, or if multiple tests need to be run.
More extensive tests can also be confusing and may require an expert to explain the results. Plus, unless you run the right tests, the results could be unclear, or even wrong. For instance, a simple pH test may come back just fine, yet your garden continues to wither. The reasons could be that you tested for the wrong thing. Or you did not test enough things, which could result in a false positive. This is common when testing groundwater. For instance, you may get a positive result for trace minerals in the groundwater simply because you failed to test for nitrates. Depending on the results, it may also be necessary to retest certain areas, which increases the overall cost of the project.
Soil is found in a variety of types. The type of soil you are dealing with can have a big impact on how well plants grow and what type of construction can be safely completed on it. When scientists and engineers test the soil before a project, they are looking for several things:
Knowing what your soil expert is looking for (and why) will help you better understand the final report he submits following soil testing.
Reading a scientific soil report isn’t always easy without help. Depending on your reasons for having the tests done (and how many tests were completed), the report can be as short as a single page (for a simple lead 2 test) to dozens of pages (for a complete report that studies every aspect of the soil on your property). Most reports, however, run about 5-12 pages. In most cases, your soil expert will give you a detailed lab report, along with a summary that he creates, outlining problem areas, and giving you the highlights of the report in a more readable (and understandable) manner. This, of course, is included in the price of the testing.
In most cases, the report will be broken down into areas, offering results for individual tests. For instance, if you had an advanced test done, it would include a section outlining the composition of the soil and also a section which lists any contaminants found (and at what levels). Both micro- and macro-nutrients will be listed here, including such important ones as nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium. There should also be a section which highlights the pH level of the soil since this is very important when it comes to growing plants.
While your soil expert should do his best to make this final report as easy as possible to read, there still may be a lot of scientific lingo in it that you find hard to understand. Be sure to ask plenty of questions and have your soil engineer go over the report in detail with you so you know exactly what it says. Expect to get your results within 5-10 business days of samples being taken.
Checking your soil for contaminants can be as simple as checking the pH levels, or as complicated as determining whether your soil can support your proposed construction project. The degree of testing you administer will depend on the reasons you are doing it, and how much information you need to gather. The more comprehensive the analysis, the more expensive the testing will be.
Used to determine the profile of the soil from the ground to the rock bed beneath. It offers an overview of the organic matter and the presence of substances like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, sulfur, magnesium, iron or copper. It can cost up to $1,500.
Determines both the structure of the soil and its components (including fertility). It analyzes a wide variety of soil contaminants such as arsenic, copper, lead, mercury and zinc, as well as soil acidity and other substances tested in basic profile tests. It is a complete look at the makeup of the soil in preparing land for construction and/or farming.
Very useful for determining the growing capabilities of the soil. The outcome will be a comprehensive report on the chemicals and minerals found within the soil (nitrates, potassium, phosphorus, etc.) Often used by farmers to help them see which plants will prosper. The cost of fertility testing averages $50-$80.
Used to detect deficits in soil nutrients. The proper amounts of sulfur and boron are needed for crops to grow. Finding deficits allows farmers to correct the problem before plants are impacted. The average cost is $10-$50.
Determines the type of soil present (sand, clay, etc.). Knowing the kind of soil you are working with allows you to choose the proper (and safest) method of construction. It usually costs about $35-$75 to test the texture of the soil.
Used to determine the best location for a well or septic system, it measures the time it takes for water to penetrate (or percolate) into the soil. It can be as simple and cheap as $100 or cost up to $1,000.
Usually used to find excess levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium, nickel, selenium and more before they affect the health and wellbeing of your family or plants. These tests clearly specify which heavy metals are in the soil so that proper measures can be taken to decrease levels to a safer amount. This usually costs $50-$200.
Determines the ratio of the unit weight of soil solids to that of water. The results show how much water your soil can hold. The price for this kind of tests averages $50-$80.
To determine specific components found in the soil. These are single tests that look for specific contaminants. It shows contamination of specific components such as lead, pesticides, or E. coli. Often used when a specific contagion is suspected. Its cost averages $10-$30.
So, what type of soil profesional should you hire to handle testing? That depends on why you are having your soil tested in the first place. If you simply want an overview of the ground where you plan to add a garden or other plantings, a landscaper may be able to handle the job. But, if you are planning a bigger project (like a home addition, well, septic system, etc.), you may need a soil engineer, otherwise known as a geotechnical engineer, to determine the characteristics and mechanics of the soil so you know what type of foundation to build and whether or not soil conditions pose any risks to the building project or the people involved.
Hiring a soil engineer to come out to your site for an inspection can cost $300-$500, in addition to the price of the actual test performed. This fee usually includes the final report, and can vary depending on the location and size of the property being studied.
Getting your soil samples evaluated usually takes about two weeks when working through a local college or university. While this is often the cheapest way to get the results you are after, if time is of the essence, you may want to send the samples out to a private laboratory. They can often email you results within 2-5 business days. Of course, this may cost 10-30% more.
When hiring a soil engineer to test your property, it is important to keep these special considerations in mind:
A basic soil test runs about $400, but if you need to bore from the surface to the rock bed beneath, the cost can rise to $2,000 or more.
Most soil tests can be completed in a few hours. If large machinery must be brought in to dig multiple holes throughout the property, the entire process can take 1-2 days.
A more complicated endeavor, the cost of a soil compaction review costs about $100 per location for the drilling; $50 per lift for the soil sample; and $50 per hour in engineering fees.
Loamy soil is a combination of sand and clay, which makes it more preferable for construction projects.
A full-blown soil investigation costs between $2,000 and $5,000. The average soil testing runs around $1,100.
Soil tests can tell you just about anything you need to know about the ground on your property: what chemicals are found there, nutrient deficiencies, mineral compounds, the type of soil, level of contamination, the ability to build safely, and more.
Simple garden tests can be purchased at your local home improvement store for about $10-$30 each. More sophisticated tests can be purchased from a soil engineer, local college or university extension service, or private testing company for $50-$300 each.
There are a variety of ways to test the soil around your home. Basic tests explain how to dig up the appropriate soil and mail in the sample, but, for the best results, it is always best to hire a professional to come in and take the samples. This may involve digging small holes in your yard and removing a cup or so of soil, or drilling larger ones using specialty equipment.
Cost to test a soil varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.