It is up to you.

The Soil Test Kit you can buy at stores only tests for the most basic nutrients, so if you are in a new location where you've never had the soil tested before, you might prefer an extension service test that goes into more depth.

I tested our soil the first year here, and haven't tested it since. Generally, if you are gardening organically and are putting organic material into the soil every year, you'll have good and balanced soil that doesn't need to be tested. When you're starting out in a new site, though, it is helpful to find out what the soil either does/does not have in it so you can correct any major deficiencies from the start.

Once you've tested it that first time and you've had a chance to fix anything that's "wrong" you should be able to tell by your plant growth whether the soil composition is OK (or not).

Dawn

If I were doing a soil test, it would be done through the extension office. Like Dawn says, it's very detailed.

Remember to take a few small samples from a number of locations to get a better feel for overall soil health.

randy