• Denton County Master Gardener Association

    Garden Help Desk

     

    Denton County Master Gardener volunteers provide answers to local resident's North Texas gardening questions based on research-based evidence, training from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and experience gardening in North Texas. The service is free and we are happy to help.

    Our volunteers make every effort to respond to questions in a timely manner either by email or phone, usually within 3 business days of receiving the question. Volunteers do not make site visits and are not allowed to make recommendations for service providers or specific products. 

    Please take a few minutes to provide a detailed description of the problem or challenge. Provide pictures for problems identifying a disease, type of insect, type of plant, or plant damage to help us narrow down the appropriate answer.

  • PHOTOS

    Photos are vital for diagnosing problems. Please upload these types of photos:

    • Full view of the plant
    • Close up of the problem or damage
    • A view of the plant in the landscape including the surrounding area
    • A view of where the roots of the plant meet the soil

    Four photos my be uploaded no larger than 40 MB each. Allowed file types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, tif.

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  • Grass Inquiry - Photo Details

    In order for the Garden Help Desk to assist you when you have problems with your turfgrass, please supply pictures and answers to the questions below.  

    Please send us pictures of:

    • The damaged area, both up close and from a distance, so we can see how your total lawn is affected.
    • The landscape in total, including what is providing shade to the lawn. e.g. from the street to show the whole front yard.
    • Pull up several blades and also blades with roots attached. Put them on white paper to photograph.
    • Be sure to show both sides of the grass blades if there are discoloration or deposits.

    Note: Over or under fertilization and amounts of trace elements in the soil can cause problems with your turf. In order to evaluate the nutrient levels in your soil, have you had a soil test done in the past 3 years? If not, information and instructions may be found at soiltesting.tamu.edu.

  • Tree Inquiry - Photo Details

    In order for the Garden Help Desk to assist you when you have problems with your tree, please supply pictures and answers to the questions below.  

    Photos are vital in order to diagnose problems. Please send us the following pictures, as appropriate, to show:

    • A picture to show tree, from top to bottom
    • Overall picture including surrounding landscape,  e.g. from the street to show the tree in its environment
    • Trunk, including where it meets the ground – the root flare
    • The affected area(s) (include any insect activity if that is involved); include a close up, if possible
    • Leaves: those affected as well as unaffected---both sides.  If possible, place them on white paper for pictures
    • Any webbing, structures made by insects, weeping, borer holes, etc.
    • Any other photos that you feel are relevant

  • Insect Inquiry - Photo Details

    In order for the Garden Help Desk to assist you when you suspect insect damage, please supply pictures and answers to the questions below.  Please note that insect id can be very complex.  If in the immature stages, it can even be impossible.

    Ideally, the insect should be placed on a white piece of paper for photography.  Please send us the following pictures to show:

    • Size of insect: use a coin or ruler beside the insect
    • One each of top and underneath of insect

    If possible, the pictures also need to reveal the following:

    • Number of body sections and shape
    • Number of legs
    • Antennae or feelers
    • Wings if present and color
    • Mouth parts/shape
    • Any webbing, larvae or chrysalis, caterpillar, etc.
    • Any damage you suspect the insect caused
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