Do You Have a Gardening Question?
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 identifcation, and soil testing.
For other services:
- Human and household pest problems and concerns should be directed to the Rock County Environmental Health Department, (608) 757-5441.
- Emerald Ash Borer information, including homeowner reporting, should be direct to emeraldashborer.info.
Weekly To-Do list
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.
Chemical Recommendations
- A non-chemical solution will be emphasized when appropriate and practical (which is most of the time!)
- To minimize chemical missue 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.
Services Provided
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?
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Cost is $15 per sample, payable cash or check at time of sample submission (checks made payable to UW Soil Lab)
