Fluvanna Master Gardeners
Orientation
HORTICULTURAL HELP
DESK
March 31, 2015
Donna McCarthy, FMG
Fluvanna Master Gardeners
VCE Master Gardeners are volunteers working in
partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to
encourage and promote environmentally sound
horticulture practices in the community through
sustainable landscape management.
VCE-MGs play a vital role in educating and reaching out to
our local communities.
Phone: (434) 591-1950 or 1955
Website: www.fluvannamg.org
One way we do this is by operating the
Horticultural Help Desk at –
Fluvanna County Extension Office in
Fork Union on Route 15. Combined with
email coverage from home.
Farmers Market at Pleasant Grove,
Route 53, Palmyra
Tuesdays, 2:00 – 5:00 pm from April
through October
Fluvanna County Library, off route 53,
Palmyra, one Saturday a month, 11:30 am
to 2:30 pm.
Various Community Events – eg, FMG
Plant Sale in May, Old Farm Day in Oct.
Fluvanna VCE Staff
John Thompson Unit Coordinator
Extension Agent, Agriculture and
Natural Resources Animal Science
Kimberly Mayo Extension Agent, 4-H
Youth Development
Faye Anderson SCNEP Program
Assistant
Erin Davis Unit Administrative Assistant
Purpose of the Help Desk
We research and answer questions about
home gardening and related landscape
issues for residents of Fluvanna County.
We do not provide this service to residents
of other counties or states. Instead, we
refer them to their own VCE office and/ or
Master Gardeners…..
Why??
There are a few other things
we don’t do…
We don’t do commercial or farm
management – refer to Extension Agent
WHY?
There are a few other things
we don’t do…
•
Don’t recommend brand name
products - use generic or chemical
names….
•Don’t use unapproved sources….
….Use approved, research based
references.…such as .edu sites.
• Don’t use any reference but the Pest
Management Guide when recommending a
pest control….
FMG Help Desk
..ps.. Wear your FMG nametag.
Help Desk
LOG BOOK
What kinds of things
do people ask us?
HD & FM Data
Help Desk
Problems Total Jan - Dec =
69 in 2010
27 in 2011
24 in 2012
38 in 2013
39 in 2014
Grand Total 1309
Farmers’ Market
Problems Total April – Oct =
112 in 2010
193 in 2011
157 in 2012
448 in 2013
202 in 2014
How do we go about diagnosing
plant problems?
Diagnosing the Problem
• •ID the plant
• •What’s normal? Is there a problem?
• •Look for Patterns (ask for more pictures
of plant in landscape or more parts of it)
• •Determine Progression
• •Define/Describe the problem
• •Ask Questions & Synthesize All Info
• •Research Common Problems First
• •Send to Lab for Diagnosis/Confirmation
• •Choose Course of Action
Now...for our crystal clear
procedures……….
Fluvanna Master Gardener Help Desk Forms
•Contact Sheet
•HORTICULTURE HELP DESK/FARMERS MARKET LOG
•Shift Check Off List
Fluvanna Master Gardeners
Help Desk Contact Sheet: 2015
Date
1 Cultural Information
2 Pesticide/IPM Requests
3 Ornamentals/Tree ID
4 Weed/Fungus ID
5 Insect ID
6 Plant/Tree Culture Problem
7 Plant/Tree Disease
8 Plant/Tree Insect Problem
9 Nuisance Insect Problem
10 Other Nuisance Critter
11 Lawn
12 Ponds
13 Plant Recommendations
14 Where Can I Find/Buy
15 Speaker Requests
16 Other
17 Master Gardener
Information
Name &
County
Problem
Type# See below
Problem Detail
Information Provided offer soil test kit
Check if
F/Up
Needed &
Fill out Log
HELP DESK LOG
Virginia Cooperative Extension/ Fluvanna Master Gardeners
PO Box 133 Palmyra VA 22963 􀁺 Phone: (434) 591-1950
HORTICULTURE HELP DESK/FARMERS MARKET LOG
􀁺 Walk-In 􀁺 Phone 􀁺 Email 􀁺 Farmers Market…Problem # (ex: 01/01/12- 1) ________________-____
Date: ____________ Plant:___________________________Cultivar/Variety:____________________
Client’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________Email:________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________________________State:_____Zip______________
County: ________________________ Volunteer Name: ____________________________________
Recommendation for: 􀁺Home Lawn/Garden 􀁺Commercial Production 􀁺Lawn/Landscape Mgmt 􀁺Other
Problem Type (fill in correct number from list):_______
1 Cultural Information…. 2 Pesticide/IPM Requests… 3 Ornamentals/Tree ID… 4 Weed/Fungus ID…. 5 Insect ID 6 Plant/Tree Culture
Problem … 7 Plant/Tree Disease… 8 Plant/Tree Insect Problem…. 9 Nuisance Insect Problem…. 10 Other Nuisance Critter Problem…. 11
Lawn…. 12 Ponds…. 13 Plant Recommendations… 14 Where Can I Find/Buy… 15 Speaker Requests… 16 Other…. 17 Master Gardener
Information
Describe question/problem – see back for related info to ask about – and, in addition, if sending a sample to VT Plant
Clinic, use appropriate separate Plant Clinic form for disease diagnosis, weed or insect ID ( give sample collection
instruction sheet, note –send dead insects only): _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Answer/Action Taken: 􀂉Soil Test Box &Directions given 􀂉 Sample Instructions given 􀂉 Website List given
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Referred To: 􀂉 VT Other: ______________________________________________________________________
Follow-up Required/Recommended: ______________________________________________________________
CLOSED—No further action required
CLOSED BY: _________________________________________ DATE CLOSED: ________________
SECTION #1: PLANT DISEASE DIAGNOSIS
Disease Distribution
􀁺General
􀁺Scattered Plants
􀁺In spots/groups
􀁺Certain Cultivar
􀁺In Low Areas
􀁺Upland Areas
􀁺Other:_____________
Part Affected
􀁺Root
􀁺Crown
􀁺Stem/branch
􀁺Leaves
􀁺Flower
􀁺Fruit
􀁺Seeds
General Appearance
􀁺Wilted
􀁺Yellowed
􀁺Stunted
􀁺Stained/Streaked
􀁺Leaf spot/Blight
􀁺Leaf Mottle
􀁺Other:_____________
Size of total planting_____________ # of Plants affected _________
First noticed ____________
Location Garden 􀁺Landscape 􀁺Indoor Plant
Has this every occurred previously? 􀁺Unknown 􀁺No 􀁺Yes—When___________________________
Weather Conditions 􀁺Normal 􀁺Rainy 􀁺Dry 􀁺Cold 􀁺Other:___________________________
Have plants been irrigated? 􀁺No 􀁺Yes 􀁺How much __________________________________
Soil:
Chemicals/Pesticides applied (method/rate/date)? 􀁺None 􀁺Unknown 􀁺Yes—Describe:___________
􀁺Growth regulator 􀁺Fertilizer 􀁺Fungicide 􀁺Insecticide 􀁺Herbicide 􀁺 Herbicide previous year
􀁺Nematicide 􀁺Nematicide previous year
*Woody Plants Only: Fruit Trees/Grapes Root Stock:_____________ Fruit bearing age 􀁺Yes 􀁺No
Trees/shrubs/fruit trees/vines: Approx age_______ Height__________ Stem Diameter____________
Canopy 􀁺Few/no dead limbs 􀁺20-50% dead 􀁺50% or more dead
Number of Year in present site: 􀁺Less then 2 􀁺2-4 􀁺4-10 􀁺10+
Exposure: 􀁺Full Sun 􀁺Partial Sun 􀁺Full Shade 􀁺Windy 􀁺Protected
Condition of trunk: 􀁺Healthy 􀁺Light damage 􀁺Heavy damage—Describe:_______________________
Root damage or soil disturbance from: 􀁺Sidewalks/driveways 􀁺Trenches 􀁺Retaining walls
􀁺Compaction 􀁺Other construction activities—Describe:_______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
SECTION #2: INSECT IDENTIFICATION / DIAGNOSIS
Plant Pests Distribution: 􀁺One plant􀁺Several plants 􀁺Scattered 􀁺Clumped 􀁺Wide spread􀁺Entire area
Damage: 􀁺Roots 􀁺Bark 􀁺Twigs/stems 􀁺Leaves 􀁺Buds 􀁺Fruit
Household/structural pests: In what part of the building/house was insect found?__________________
Insect Quantity: 􀁺None observed 􀁺Gone 􀁺Few 􀁺Common 􀁺Abundant 􀁺Extreme
Date of first appearance: ____________ Describe damage, problem, seriousness: ______________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the Insect: ____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Previous occurrence and any control applied:
____________________________________________________________________________________
SECTION #3: WEED IDENTIFICATION
Procedure: Send as complete a plant as possible—include leaves, stems, roots, flowers and seed. Remove soil from roots.
Describe weed: ____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Growing Area (sunny, shade, wet, dry, soil type, etc): ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Herbicides applied & when: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Percent of area infested by weed?____________% Weed distribution: 􀂉scattered 􀂉clumps of plants
Shift Check Off List
SHIFT CHECK-OFF LIST
DATE________ SHIFT COORDINATORS: _____________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_____Check in at Front Desk, Pick up mail for Help Desk
_____Check Inbox on Desk
_____Review Log Book for Current Problems/Unresolved Inquiries: use small post-its to flag those needing follow up, remove when complete.
_____Check notes left by prior shifts
_____Check voicemail messages
_____Check email – Turn on computer, pw is “G0H0kies”. Click on Outlook Express, click on Inbox. If help request, fill out the HD Log Form. If
respond via email, be sure to print out hard copy and file response in Log Book stapled to the Log form. Then delete from Outlook. If
NOT a help request, please forward to appropriate person. FMG’s phones/emails are in Log Book. If not sure, forward to HD Coordinator
or leave a note for next shift.
_____Print and mail out email VT plant clinic reports. Leave box unsealed for VCE agent to review before mailing.
_____Move completed emails that you wish to save online into “Archive” on Outlook by opening document, click on File top left, click on Move
to Folder, select Archive, click OK. Then delete from Inbox and Sent folders.
LIST SAMPES MAILED TO VCE:
Problem #/Client Name
Plant Type
Problem
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Notes to Next Shift____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
SHUT DOWN COMPUTER, TURN OFF PRINTER, AND TURN OFF THE LIGHT. Thanks!
VCE Clinic Forms
• Plant Disease Diagnostic Form
Publication 450-097
• Weed Identification Record Form
Revised 2004, Publication 450-138
• Soil Sample Information Sheet for Home Lawns, Gardens, Fruits, and
Ornamentals
Publication 452-125, Revised 2013
• Insect Identification and Diagnosis Request
Role Play Question One
Client - I have never planted tomatoes before and want to plant
seedlings which I will buy at a local nursery. I have a sunny garden
with moderate drainage.
How do I select a variety to grow?
What do I need to do when planting?
How do I maintain them?
Role Play Question Two
Client – I have a variety of shrubs and flowering perennials in
my garden. I suspect some of my plants have a disease.
How do I decide if my plants have a disease?
Where can I go for information?
FMG Website – www.fluvannamg.org
• Help Desk & Farmers’ Markets Procedures – download
documents
• Help Desk Sample Answers – what to include
• Help Desk Tab – Forum FAQ Knowledge Base
• FMG Webmail – you are not you – you Log IN on
www.fluvannamg.org/webmail as info@fluvannamg.org
• Help Desk Sign Up – link to VMS
VMGA Master Gardener Login
Welcome to the VMGA Master Gardener Login. Login here with
your email and password, and you will be routed to the Master
Gardener Volunteer Management System you attempted to
access.
If you do not know your password, click the link below requesting
password assistance.
Enter your email address and password to login.
•Email Address
•Password
•THIS IS A SHARED COMPUTER - DON'T REMEMBER MY
EMAIL ADDRESS
Homework Assignment -
• Send a "hello" note from the FMG webmail to
donnamc47@yahoo.com – don’t forget to sign your name!
If you have a problem, email me through VMS.
AND..
• Log on to the FMG HD sign up page - then follow
directions to VMS, log in there and click on the Help Desk
on April 11 on the General Events Calendar and register
as a volunteer. You can “unvolunteer” your name as soon
as I notify you that I received the system notification of your
registration.
•Thanks for Listening and Volunteering!!