Plant Diagnostic Services and Home Horticulture Hotline Available
go.ncsu.edu/readext?1006132
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲Home Horticulture Hotline
Paige Patterson, Consumer and Commercial Horticulture Agent, along with the Watauga Extension Master Gardeners, can help you with all your plant needs. If you have a question and want a quick answer, want to get links to pertinent information, or links to recorded classes, you can email wataugamastergardener@gmail.com An Extension Master Gardener monitors this page daily and will usually respond within 24 hours.
Diagnostic Services
If you are having a plant insect or disease issue, we may be able to diagnose your issue online, in our office, or may consult the NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. Having a plant issue diagnosed is much like visiting a doctor for a medical diagnosis. The more information we can get, the better we are able to help. There are often a combination of factors leading to the issue making it hard to determine from small dead leaves and branches we often receive.
Helping us help you, how to get started
- A photo of the whole plant in the planting area, a picture of the whole plant with damage, and a close up photo of the leaf or damaged area can often give us more of an idea of what is happening to the plant, as the environment can be a contributing factor. Seeing the whole plant also allows us to determine if the plant can be saved. If it is a tree or large shrub, inspect the trunk and photo any damage. Photos can be emailed to paige_patterson@ncsu.edu Sometimes the photo is enough to make a diagnosis.
- We may additionally ask for a physical sample which can be dropped off at our office. Please have the sample in a plastic bag or other container with your name and contact information. If no one is available at the office to help, you may drop off your sample in the box in our lobby labeled “plant samples”. There is a form to fill out with your name along with information on your site and any treatments you may have applied, or you may fill it out online on this form.
- Please bring a generous amount of both healthy and affected leaves, don’t bring just dead leaves. Being able to examine stem tissue is helpful, leaving the leaves attached to the stem.
Site Visits
There are some cases where the Horticulture Extension Agent needs to visit the site to make a proper diagnosis, but due to the large volume of calls we receive in spring and summer, along with competing job responsibilities, we cannot make visits for all diagnostic requests. We ask that you begin with the above process. We try to handle requests in the order that they are received, so it could take several days to receive a diagnosis during busy times. There are times where we have prior appointments and are not always able to change our schedule to give an immediate diagnosis. We want to be able to help everyone as quickly as we can, so we will collect your sample and contact you as soon as possible. It may be possible to arrange for home visits at less busy times of the year. 
