Have Questions? We have Answers! Plant, pest diagnostic clinic

By David Sprague

OSU Extension master gardener volunteer

The Mahoning County Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic starts its 2015 season today.

The clinic is staffed with master gardener volunteers on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

If you cannot be at the clinic at these times you can call or visit the Extension Office Monday through Friday during normal business hours with your questions to fill out a form. One of our volunteers will call you back or email you with an answer.

The master gardener volunteers at the clinic can assist you in diagnosing disease, general plant care, insect identification or other pest problems.

We also advise about lawn care, identifying plants and weeds as well as providing other information relating to your lawn, landscape or even your farm.

All answers provided by the clinic are the results of university tests and evaluations.

If a question cannot be answered by the clinic, we have the full resources of the Ohio State University Extension system to get you an answer.

Last year the clinic answered more than 600 documented questions on subjects including: fruit, vegetables, lawns, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, invasive species, insect identification, wildlife issues, ponds and much more.

When coming to the clinic, it is especially helpful to bring a sample of the plant, insect or lawn you have questions about. A sample will help us get you the best answer possible.

Please use these guidelines when collecting samples.

For plant disease diagnosis: Provide a sample showing both diseased and healthy tissue on the same plant. An ideal sample would be a fresh stem or branch about 12 inches long with leaves and, if available, flowers and berries attached. Individual leaves are not a good sample.

For plant or weed identification: Provide as many parts of the plant as possible, including stems, leaves, and flowers, fruit/berries, if available. The fresher the sample the better. Place these in a paper bag, never in a closed, ziplock bag.

For turf: Submit a sample 6-8 inches square from the margin (edge) of the affected area that contains both healthy and problem grass.

For insects/pests: Collect one or more complete insect or pest specimen(s) and place them in a sturdy plastic or glass container and seal the container so they cannot escape.

There is no charge for diagnostic services at this time, but donations are appreciated. You’ll even get credit for donation to The Ohio State University.

Another service the clinic offers is soil testing.

All successful gardening begins with the soil.

Before adding any fertilizer or other amendments to your garden, flowerbeds or lawn this year you should know the existing conditions of your soil.

The clinic offers laboratory soil evaluations for $20 a sample.

The clinic will be open this year until Oct. 29. It is located in the Mahoning County Extension Office at 490 South Broad St., Canfield. Call us at 330 533-5538. To read more about the clinic or preparing a sample, go to our page at http://go.osu.edu/clinic.