Free Hotline For Gardeners

Lawn looking a little peaked? Vegetables growing a little weary? Trees have uninvited guests? For the average homeowner, free help is on the way.

The University of Illinois Extension Service has a free hotline for any question nature related. A master gardener is staffed all year from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. 

This time of year, about 40 percent of the questions are insect-related, and 30 percent is disease related, said Nancy Kuhajda, master gardener program coordinator. 

The information provided to callers is research-based and university tested. It is not biased, such as when people call chemical companies or herbicide representatives. They also offer organic as well as chemical answers. 

"Sometimes (the answer) is related to culture or the way the plant is planted or the site where it is planted," she said.

This time of year, many questions are about lawns and drought. In the fall, they typically receive more calls about grubs.

Will County residents may call 815-727-9296 for the gardening answers. In Grundy county, call 815-942-2725.

People with questions that cannot be described easily over the phone are welcome to bring in or mail plant material to Nancy Kuhajda, University of Illinois Extension, 100 Manhattan Road, Joliet, IL 60433. Or they can email digital photos to kuhajda@illinois.edu.

For more information about the master gardener program, click here.