Garden Hotline

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in 58 Pennsylvania counties are trained to answer residents’ questions about gardening, on topics such as soil testing, growing vegetables, plant selection, pruning fruit trees, common plant diseases, insect identification, lawn care, and more.

Master Gardeners are schooled in IPM (Integrated Pest Management) practices and will search for the most effective solution to a plant problem with the least toxicity and the least peripheral impact on waterways, wildlife, and the environment. All information provided is researched-based and current. Quite often a plant ailment can be traced to cultural conditions such as soil pH, watering, weather, or siting, which can be remedied without recourse to pesticides.

A conversation with a Master Gardener volunteer may be enough to solve a plant problem. Often a photo or a sample of the plant will help to arrive at a diagnosis. Should the Master Gardeners not be able to diagnose a problem at the local level, they may consult with Plant Pathology Clinic or the Entomology Lab at Penn State University to arrive at an answer.

Another option to have gardening questions answered is to go to ask2.extension.org a national Cooperative Extension online service.

Garden Hotline by County

For Master Gardeners

For Master Gardeners