Rutgers Garden Helpline Of Union County Can Help
For mosquito control clean your bird bath at least twice a week. Scan you property for standing water often, especially after every rainfall. Even a soda cap of standing water is enough for mosquitos to breed.
After months of anticipation, midsummer is upon us with its bounty of fruit and vegetables from home gardens and local farm stands. Summer also has a challenges for many of us, from allergies to insects, especially mosquitoes.
Luckily for us, Rutgers Garden Helpline of Union County can answer plant questions,identify insects, including ticks and help diagnose plant and lawn problems. Free to the citizens of the Union County, Rutgers Garden Helpline is a valuable resource not only to the public but also for professional landscapers, who use the service to help identify plant problems. The Garden Helpline is staffed by trained Master Gardener volunteers, under the direction of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Agricultural Agent, Madeline Flahive DiNardo.
The Garden Helpline office is located at
300 North Avenue East
Westfield, New Jersey, 07090,
2nd Floor of the Colleen Fraser Building
(Across from the Westfield Diner).
They can be reached at 908-654-9852
or email Mastergardeners@ucnj.org.
You can email photographs of problem plants or insects, but a good physical sample of the problem provides the most reliable diagnoses when placed under a microscope. I suggest you call before visiting the office to ask about the proper sample for your specimen.
There is a booklet called ‘Rutgers Recommendations’. It lists chemicals that have been tested to treat and cure plant problems such as fungal and bacterial disease and/or infestations of insects*. Organics are also listed for those who (above) President of The Rahway Garden Club, James Keane has been researching and answering garden questions since 1995. Visit ‘Keane Gardener’ blog at: keanegardener.blogspot.com prefer to avoid chemicals.
*If you think you have an insect problem turn the leaf over and look under it. Larger beetles and caterpillars are easy to detect with the eye. For quick results remove the insects by hand and put them in a cup of soapy water.
Soil test kits are available at the office for $20.00 (no credit cards accepted).
The Helpline is one of many services offered by the Master Gardener program throughout the county. For more information, about classes and perhaps becoming a Master Gardener volunteer yourself, contact the office and they will send you details.
Happy summer,
James
(above) President of The Rahway Garden Club, James Keane has been researching and answering garden questions since 1995. Visit ‘Keane Gardener’ blog at: keanegardener.blogspot.com
