Have a Gardening Question? Ask an Extension Master Gardener!

We're here to help! The UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Helpline serves Vermont residents by providing science based information about home horticulture issues and integrated pest management (IPM). Unfortunately, Master Gardener Volunteers do NOT provide personal site visits to home gardens. Volunteers are also limited on the pesticides they are allowed to recommend as they are not licensed pesticide applicators.

Note for Commercial Growers: You should visit the Plant Diagnostic Clinic -- do NOT submit your question using the form below.

Phonelines Open for the 2023 Growing Season 

Our Call-in Helpline is now open on Thursdays, from 9-12. Scroll down the page for more info.   

Ask Your Gardening Questions Online

Submit Your Question

To submit a question online, please take a moment to complete this diagnostic worksheet to assist us with your question(s). You can either attach this worksheet to the Ask Extension form below, or type in the information you filled out on the worksheet into the Ask Extension Question box.  If you are submitting photos, please review the Tips for Submitting Photos prior to attaching them to the Ask Extension form. You can submit up to three images at a maximum file size of 8MB per image with your question to help us gain a better sense of your situation.  IMPORTANT: Once you submit your online question, you will receive a confirmation email from askextension@eduworks.com. If you do not see this confirmation in your Inbox, please check your SPAM/JUNK folder. Please allow 3-5 business days before receiving a response.

Soil Test Report Interpretation

If you have a question about your soil test report, please upload it as an image (PDF) and be sure to check the box to set your question as private (to protect your contact information from going public).

Helpline Phone

Helpline Phone

802-656-5421 - Volunteers are available to assist on Thursdays, 9-12.

If you do not have access to email or a computer and are unable to use the online form, please leave a clear message and be sure to include:

  • Name
  • County
  • Phone
  • Email Address (if available)
  • Details of your Question

Please do not leave a message if you are going to submit your question online. Simply hang up. 

Home Garden Specimens

Most often we are able to i.d. Insect & Plant disease specimens with good/clear images. Please submit images by filling out the online form located above. Here are some Tips for Submitting Photos. In addition, please provide as much information as possible about the Insect or Plant disease by filling out this Insect and Disease Diagnosis Worksheet and attach it to your online form, as well as the photos.

Instructions for mailing in a specimen:

If you do not have access to a computer or the internet, please submit your specimen by filling out this Plant Specimen Submission Form.

Not in Vermont?

Due to the large volume of requests, differences in climatic conditions, and variation in state pesticide regulations, we can only assist with issues that occur in Vermont. Find a National Master Gardener Program near you.

This work is supported by Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2021-70006-35509/project accession no. 1027204] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

resources

Get Your Soil Tested at UVM's Ag & Environmental Testing Lab

Soil sample. From Wikimedia, Sustainable Sanitation Alliance

 

Helpline Featured on Across the Fence