Gardening Hotline

Master Gardeners answer questions on a variety of topics including growing vegetables, fruits, ornamentals and turfgrass, plant identification, pruning, and insect and disease problems. Advice encourages the use of integrated pest management and environmentally sound practices.

To help with identification and diagnosis, plant and insect specimens can be brought to the extension office, but it is best to call first to make sure a Master Gardener will be on duty. Select fresh plant samples with intact parts including flowers, if present. For diagnosis, bring a live sample that shows both healthy and unhealthy growth.

 Enclose live insect specimens and infested plants in an airtight container. If you cannot keep the insect alive, place it in a jar with alcohol or freeze it for several days to preserve the specimen. Digital photos for plant or insect identification can also be e-mailed to the office: vvs2@psu.edu

There will be a master gardener available to answer your gardening questions in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm.  724-438-0111.