Plant Clinics

Bring your specimens to any one of our local plant clinics.  To allow for the best possible identification of your problem, please follow the instructions for collecting your specimen.

1. Select material showing the symptoms you are concerned about. Bring several samples showing various stages of disease, especially early symptoms. If possible also bring a healthy plant.
2. Get all parts of plants including roots where practical. Enclose roots and soil in a plastic bag. Use another bag to enclose the rest of the plant.
3. If it is not practical to bring the entire plant, include several affected portions of the plant. With stem or branch disorders, also include a section of live material attached to the diseased portion.
4. If a vascular wilt such as Verticillium wilt or Dutch elm disease is suspected, bring several branch sections 0.75 to 1 inch in diameter and about 6 inches long from branches with dying, wilted, or yellowed leaves. Do not bring dead wood. Put samples in a plastic bag to prevent drying.
5. Turfgrass samples should be taken from the edges of affected areas that include dying and also apparently healthy plants. Bring one or two 3-by-3-inch squares of sod containing 1 inch of attached soil. Wrap each sample in one thickness of slightly dampened toweling, then in dry newspaper. Collect as much information as possible.
6. Fleshy specimens such as vegetables, fruit, or mushrooms should be as firm as possible and show early and intermediate symptom development. Wrap specimens separately in paper towels or newspaper. Do not put in plastic.