Get Garden Help from Plant Health Advisers

Master Gardener Volunteers dedicated to answering garden related questions from the general public (Plant Health Advisers) have set their office hours at Rock County UW-Extension for this upcoming growing season.

Garden related diagnostic services

Rock County UW-Extension offers research-based information to assist and educate the public in their gardening endeavors. Our services include assistance with plant identification, disease and insect identification, and soil testing.

Human and household pest problems and concerns should be directed to the Rock County Environmental Health Department, (608) 757-5441.

Help by phone:

Please call the Rock County UW-Extension office at (608) 757-5696 at any time.   Please leave a clearly stated phone number and a brief explanation of your gardening concern.  Your call is typically returned within one or two business days by the Horticulture Educator or a Master Gardener Volunteer.  If you do not get a reply within 7 days, please try again as some messages are inadvertently overlooked during the busy season.

Help by e-mail:

E-mails can be directed to: mike.maddox@ces.uwex.edu

Electronic photos are welcomed. Include the species of plant, age and/or size, growing conditions, and a brief description of the problem. Please include your name, phone number and mailing address.

Walk-in visits:

To talk in person with your county UW-Extension Horticulture Educator or Master Gardener Volunteer, please visit them inside the Rock County Courthouse, 2nd floor, in the UW-Extension office.

Memorial Day through Labor Day

• Tuesdays: 10am to 2pm
• Wednesday: 10am to 2pm
• By appointment at any other time

Labor Day through Memorial Day (off season hours)

• Wednesday: Noon to 2pm
• By appointment at any other time

Office hours are no longer offered at the Rotary Botanical Gardens.

At all other times it is recommended you call ahead and/or schedule an appointment.

Where to deliver samples:

Please deliver all samples to Rock County UW-Extension, 2nd floor of the Rock County Courthouse, Janesville.

Home visits:

Home site visits are not performed. Please contact a for-hire professional for on-site assistance.

Services Provided

Chemical Recommendations

To minimize chemical misapplication and abuse, Master Gardener Volunteers have been instructed to NOT provide chemical recommendations over the phone or electronically to the general public.   When necessary, a fact sheet can be mailed to the homeowner with a variety of control recommendations.

To receive a chemical recommendation,  samples can be delivered to the office to be examined by the Master Gardener Volunteers or Horticulture Educator.   Appropriate recommendations are given only once a visual diagnosis is made.

Plant Identification

What we need:

• If possible, submit the entire plant (especially for weeds), the roots may be important for identification.
• For trees and shrubs– a branch with leaves attached.
• Flowers and fruits are also helpful in identification.
• Submit sample in a plastic bag, do NOT water.
• Wrap turf in foil, do NOT water.

Disease Identification

What we need:

• For herbaceous plants, submit the entire plant that has symptoms.
• For woody plants, submit the branch that has symptoms (living and dead parts).
• Submit sample in a plastic bag, do NOT add water.

In some cases, and with your permission, it is necessary to forward samples to the diagnostic laboratories (UW-Madison). There will be a $15 to $25 charge. You will be invoiced for this service.

Insect Identification

What we need:

• If possible, submit the insect specimen, preferably alive.
• Bring in a small jar or plastic container so it does not get squashed.
• Detail the location it was found.

Soil Testing

What you get:

• Analysis of current nutrient content of your soil (P,K).
• Current soil pH.
• Recommendation of type and amount of fertilizer to add.
• Allow 2-3 weeks for return of results.

What we need:

• 2 cups of air dry soil.
• Samples should contain soil from surface to 6 inches deep.
• Take soil from 3 or 5 places in area to be tested, mix together and submit 2 cups of mixture in clean plastic bag.

When to sample:

• Can be done anytime the soil is not frozen.
• Best done before you apply fertilizer.

What is the cost?

• Cost is $15 per sample, payable cash or check at time of sample submission (checks made payable to Rock Co. UWEX)