Garden Hotline
Email: alleghenymg@psu.edu
Phone: 412-482-3476
The Garden Hotline is staffed by Penn State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers who are trained to answer questions on a variety of topics including growing vegetables, fruits, ornamentals and turfgrass, plant identification, pruning, and insect and disease problems. We encourage the use of integrated pest management and environmentally sound practices, and our advice is research based.
Garden Hotline volunteers respond to emails (alleghenymg@psu.edu) and telephone (412-482-3476) calls and messages. Allegheny County residents can also visit our office (please confirm our office hours before coming) for help with plant identification and garden problem solving.
Tips for Email Questions
Digital photos can be helpful in plant identification and problem solving. Try to include a photo of the entire plant as well as close up shots of any particular areas of concern (like an insect or spot on a leaf). Email: alleghenymg@psu.edu.
Tips for Telephone Questions
Your call may be answered directly during office hours, or you can leave a message with a call back telephone number. Leaving your email address on the telephone message will facilitate a timely response. Your personal information is not shared. Phone: 412-482-3476.
Tips for In-Office Visits
To help with identification and diagnosis, plant and insect specimens may be brought to the extension office during office hours. Please contact us before you come to our office. For identification, 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 rubbing alcohol or freeze it for several days to preserve the specimen.
Spring/Summer Office Hours
April 1 to September 30
Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Master Gardeners also answer emails on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Winter Hours
October 1 to March 31
During winter months, Master Gardeners return emails throughout the week and phone messages on Wednesdays.
December - Garden Hotline is closed.
Emails received during December will be answered in January due to the holidays.
Fertility Soil Testing
Information on submitting soil samples to the Penn State (PSU Agricultural Analytical Services Lab) can be found at Ag Analytical Lab or copy into your search bar: https://agsci.psu.edu/aasl/soil-testing. We also have soil test kits available at our office. When mailing soil to the lab, we highly recommend having the package weighed at the post office as a parcel and attaching the postage. After you receive your soil test results you can contact the Garden Hotline for help in understanding the results and following the recommendations.
Contact Us
Phone: 412-482-3476
Email: alleghenymg@psu.edu
In Person: Bring your questions into the office.
Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State
1435 Bedford Avenue - Suite A
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Parking
There is no guest parking at the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center. Paid street parking and a nearby event lot are available near our office.
Public Transit
Bus 83 service to Bedford Ave.
