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Ask a Master Gardener

Free access to unbiased research-based horticulture advice
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We’re trained to help you!

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For more than a half century, home gardeners have been bringing us their questions and issues. We have University trained volunteers who can help you tackle those intractable problems! Our diagnostic team specializes in pinpointing issues with plants and pests, offering free research-based advice on effective management strategies for both the pests and the overall health of gardens and landscapes.

Ask a Master Gardener

Gardening advice via phone or email

If you have a gardening issue, you can submit your question via email, or give us a call at (253) 798-7170. Or, submit your question with the form below! Our Master Gardener clinicians are most frequently answering questions between 10am-2pm on weekdays. There may be days where we do not have a volunteer available; please allow one week for a response.

All walk-ins must be scheduled in advance.

Year-round

Question submission form
Master Gardeners answering questions for clients at State Fair table.

“Ask a Master Gardener” plant clinic locations

If instead of email, you want to have some back-and-forth question and answer so that, together, we can hone on the difficult-to-describe issue, we have over a dozen “Ask a Master Gardener” plant clinic locations across Pierce County.

Seasonal

Find an Ask a Master Gardener Clinic

Want to do some research on your own?

Aphids on a plant

Hortsense

Hortsense contains home gardener fact sheets for managing plant problems.

Hortsense
Butterfly on daisy

Other gardening resources

Find publications and links to a vast library of gardening resources.

Gardening resources

Learn more about some common weeds in our area

Field of horsetail

Horsetail

Horsetails are found primarily in moist to wet areas. Scouringrush is common along roadsides and ditch banks. Field horsetail is found primarily in moist to wet areas, but can survive in drier areas once established. Field horsetail is a common weed of gardens, pastures, and home landscapes.
Horsetail
Bittercress, also known as Shotweed

Bittercress (a.k.a.: Shotweed)

Little bittercress is commonly found west of the Cascades in yards, gardens, roadsides, waste areas, and perennial plantings. It is native to Europe and has become a serious problem in the nursery industry.
Shotweed
Dandelion going to seed

Dandelions

The common dandelion is a persistent taprooted plant reproducing by seeds and by short shoots from the crown. It also grows back from roots broken during hand removal. 
Dandelions
Common weed Barnyardgrass also known as Watergrass

Barnyardgrass (a.k.a. Watergrass)

Barnyardgrass is a widespread weed in cultivated areas including irrigated crops and gardens, along ditch banks, and borders with low maintenance. It is most frequently found in wet spots, earning it another common name of “watergrass”.
Barnyardgrass
Common weed: blackberries

Blackberries

Blackberries are found on various sites including roadsides, clearings or burned areas in woodlands, pastures, and many other areas. They are most typically a problem west of the Cascades, where they are widely established. 
Blackberries
common weed, western bracken fern

Brackenfern

Brackenfern is found in a variety of sites in sun to partial shade and on soils that range from deep and rich to hard-packed or sandy. It is one of the first plants to colonize logged or cleared areas. It seldom persists in cultivated areas. 
Brackenfern
common weed, buttercup

Buttercup

Creeping buttercup is commonly found in moist areas such as meadows and along ditch banks, but it can also become a problem in lawns. It can become aggressive in pastures.
Buttercup
common weed and sometimes lawn alternative, clover

Clover

Clovers commonly grow in fields, meadows, and other sites on well-drained soils. They may be included in seed mixes for lawns but are sometimes considered to be lawn weeds.
Clover
common weed, spotted knapweed

and much, much more…

We have over 1,000 fact sheets on everything related to your garden. Ornamentals, fruit, veggies, lawn, weeds, pests, pollinators, and still more. Take a tour today.
Hortsense

Frequently asked questions:

A: Our community Answer Clinics are typically open April – September each year. Please check above for details on dates & times at specific locations. Our email clinic is available year-round.

A: Yes, you can bring your samples for diagnostics to our community locations. Please do not bring samples to the office clinic before calling (253.798.7170). Office clinic walk-ins are by appointment only.

A: Yes, please submit your request at least 6 weeks prior to your event. This can be a one-time or reoccurring event. We will do our best to accommodate your event.