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Washington State University

Ask A Master Gardener

Do You Have A Gardening Question?

Get quick, expert help from a Master Gardener in King County.

Master Gardeners are university-trained volunteers who will provide you with relevant and unbiased research-based information focused on environmentally friendly gardening practices.

 

Email Clinic

Types of Details to Include

Icon with arrow pointing at envelopeSend your gardening questions year-round to the King County Master Gardeners at ask-a-mastergardener@live.com.

 

To help us better diagnose a plant problem, please try to share as much of the following information as possible:

  • What type of plant is this?
  • What type of damage are you seeing and when did it start? Describe in your own words what you are seeing.
  • Which parts of the plant are affected, for example, flower, trunk or bark, roots or soil line, leaf, stem, fruit, etc.?
  • How is the plant watered? How much, for example, hand watered. or drip irrigation. How often, for example, 3 times a week for 10 minutes?
  • Where is the plant located, for example, in a garden bed or in the lawn, next to a driveway or house? Is it in full or part sun, facing which direction?
  • Sharing photographs of your plant problem, plant identification or insect identification is helpful. See the section below for tips on sharing your photos.*

*Tips on Sharing Photos

Photographs of your plant problem, plant identification or insect identification are helpful. 

Here are some hints about the types of photos that will show evidence of a problem and will help us to make the correct diagnosis or identification. Please provide photos that show the plant or insect or identification, or the plant problem as seen:

  • Include photos of the buds, stems, leaves and flowers to help with plant identification if necessary.
  • Show the damaged or problem plant in the landscape along with other plants to provide additional clues to the probable cause of the problem.
  • Clearly show the base or root flare of the plant at the soil line to display any potential root issues.
  • Clearly show both live branches/limbs and leaves, and dead or dying branches/limbs and leaves to help us determine the spread.
  • Clearly show the margin between affected and healthy tissues. Include healthy tissue as well as diseased tissue in the photo so a comparison with the “normal” plant is possible.
  • Show the insect that is the suspected culprit in the damage. Include photos of the kinds of damage you are seeing.

 

 

In-Person Plant Clinics

Icon of three people with red borderTHE IN-PERSON KING COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PLANT CLINICS OPERATING IN 2022.

Visit with our King County Master Gardeners volunteers at one of our in-person plant clinics to discuss your gardening questions. Master Gardener plant clinics offer FREE advice on gardening, plant problems, plant identification, pest management and soil improvement. In-person clinics are usually open from April to October each year.

See the map of the locations of all the King County Master Gardener in-person clinics and demonstration gardens to find a clinic or garden convenient to you.

 

 

 

Graphic art courtesy of Vecteezy.

 

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