A free service to local residents and gardeners to provide advice and guidance on all things horticultural.
Call us today!
The Berks County Garden Hotline is typically staffed five days a week, April through October by Penn State Master Gardeners with advanced training in diagnosing plant problems. We annually answer more than 1,200 calls, offering free, research-based information on everything from houseplants to towering trees, lawns, vegetable gardens, fruit, composting, insects, weeds, mulch and more. Our Master Gardeners can also identify plants and insects.
There are several ways county residents can take advantage of the Garden Hotline Services:
In-person
The Penn State Extension Office in Berks County is located in the Berks County Agricultural Center 1327 County Welfare Road, Suite 110 Leesport, PA. The Garden Hotline office is open to the public Monday through Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm. Residents can stop in with plant or gardening questions, if they have a plant or insect they need help identifying or if they simply need some general gardening advice. One of our Master Gardener volunteers will be happy to assist.
Email Hotline
The Berks County Master Gardeners can be reached at the Garden Hotline email address: berksmg@psu.edu When submitting a question by email, county residents are encouraged to provide as much information as they can about the plant and the problem. In addition, we recommend submitting at least three (3) clear, in-focus, high resolution photos which clearly highlight the problem outlined in the email. Please also include your contact information (name, address, phone #, email address) in case we have additional questions or need additional information. You should expect to hear from a Master Gardener within 48 hours of submitting your question.
Phone Hotline
County residents can call the Garden Hotline at 610-378-1327 to speak with a Master Gardener during Hotline Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00am-4:00pm.
Soil Test Kits and Water Test Kits
County residents can purchase soil test kits and water test kits at the Penn State Extension Office located in the Berks County Agricultural Center at 1327 County Welfare Road Suite 110 Leesport, PA.
Contact the Garden Hotline at any time by email (Berksmg@psu.edu).
