4 microbial groups
We grow and count four groups of helpful microbes from your sample.
There’s more to your soil than its
nutrient levels.
Your own garden soil
Find out what grows from the bed you actually care for.
Results explained
A microbiologist explains your results and recommends a next step.
CHOOSE YOUR TEST
Start free. Go deeper when you’re ready.
Soil pH
Free
Find out if your soil is too acidic or alkaline for what you grow. Included in every kit.
Results in 2–3 days*
Get free kitSoil Microbiology + pH
$45 $55
Launch price · first 25 paid tests
Not a nutrient test. We count four groups of living microbes grown from your soil, and compare them with other Ohio gardens.
Results in 2–3 weeks*
Buy the microbiology testAmendment Growth Trial
$95
See how plants respond. Your soil, grown side by side with and without the amendment you’re considering.
By arrangement · results 4–6 weeks after the trial starts
Set up a trialWant both? Microbiology + Growth Package — $130 (save $10)
*Turnaround starts after sample receipt and payment, if due. Postal delivery takes additional time.
How it works
1. Request your kit
We mail a sample bag, simple instructions and a prepaid return envelope.
2. Collect your soil
Dig 5–6 small spots in one bed, mix them together and fill the bag to the top.
3. Mail it back
Choose your test on the form and drop it in the mail, Monday to Wednesday.
4. Get clear answers
Get your results by email or postal mail, with a plain-language explanation and a recommended next step.
MEET YOUR SOIL MICROBES
No single microbe
does everything.
A standard soil test tells you what nutrients are there. It doesn’t tell you whether your soil has the microbes that make them available.
Counts reflect microbes grown in the lab, not all soil life or activity in your garden.
See the living side of your soil.
Buy the microbiology testNitrogen Fixers
The problem: Plants can’t use nitrogen gas directly.
What they do: Fix nitrogen into forms that enter the soil nitrogen cycle. Plants absorb nitrogen mainly as ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻).
Phosphate Solubilizers
The problem: Phosphorus can be present but bound in forms roots can’t readily use.
What they do: Help release bound phosphate. Phosphorus supports roots, flowers, and fruit.
Actinomycetes
The problem: Tough plant material breaks down slowly.
What they do: Members of this group break down complex organic matter, helping return nutrients to the soil cycle.
Culturable Heterotrophs (general soil bacteria)
The problem: You can’t judge microbial abundance by looking at soil.
What they do: Grow using organic carbon. Their count gives a broad baseline of bacteria that grow in our test.
THE MIKROLAB · EXAMPLE REPORT
Soil Microbiology + pH Results
| Group | CFU / g | Ohio sample comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen Fixers | 154,000 | Typical |
| Phosphate Solubilizers | 97,500 | Low |
| Actinomycetes | 413,500 | High |
| Culturable Heterotrophs | 1,945,000 | Typical |
What this means: Your plain-language summary and one recommended next step.
YOUR REPORT
Real numbers.
Plain answers.
Colony counts per gram of soil
How your soil compares with other Ohio gardens
What your results mean, and one clear next step
Sample report shown for illustration. Microbial counts alone do not diagnose overall soil health or predict plant growth.
NO HYPE, JUST SCIENCE
What research tells us
Microbes influence nutrient cycling
They take up, transform and release nutrients. Their effects depend on the soil and growing conditions.
Communities matter
No single organism does every job. Adding a bottled inoculant does not guarantee it will thrive in your soil.
Practices matter
Compost, mulch and less disturbance help create habitat for soil life. The right approach depends on your garden.
MEET YOUR MICROBIOLOGIST
Hi, I’m Mope — a lifelong microbiology nerd.
I hold a B.S. in Microbiology and an M.S. in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Georgia. My background spans pharmaceutical and food manufacturing laboratories and quality assurance. At The MikroLab, I bring that experience and curiosity to your garden, right here in Norton, Ohio.
B.S. + M.S.University of Georgia
Hands-on scienceFrom the lab to your garden
FOR GARDEN CLUBS
The Power of Beneficial Microbes
What science shows, why inoculants sometimes disappoint, and which gardening practices support soil life. Includes Q&A.
Questions
gardeners ask
Is this a nutrient (N-P-K) test?
No. Nutrient tests measure chemistry. Our microbiology test counts selected living microbes that grow under our lab conditions.
Is the pH test really free?
Yes. The kit and return postage are free, and there’s no card needed. Upgrade only if you want to.
Where do you ship kits?
Anywhere in Ohio.
Is this a certified lab analysis?
No. It’s a screening of selected microbes that grow from your soil under our lab conditions. It is not a complete soil-health assessment.
How do I arrange a growth trial?
Choose the growth trial and provide your phone number in your request. We’ll call to arrange the soil, amendment and seed details. Send only soil in the regular mail-in kit.
START WITH YOUR OWN GARDEN
Start with a free soil pH test.
We’ll mail you a soil collection kit with prepaid return postage. Send back your sample, and we’ll email your pH result.
No payment required for the pH test.
