The San Juan County Master Gardeners plant problem diagnostic clinic meets twice monthly on the first and third Thursday of the month from April through September, and supports the Master Gardener Farmers Market booths on Orcas and San Juan Islands and the Lopez table at Sunset Builders Supply. Residents and visitors can submit plants with poor vigor, signs of disease or insect damage. They also identify plants and insects of concern or interest.

The recommended method of submitting plants is to collect them as close to the Saturday Farmers Market or clinic dates as possible. The plant sample should include leaves, stems, flowers and fruit if possible. The more diseased plant samples we receive, the greater the chances that we can make an accurate diagnosis. In order to preserve the sample, place it in a Ziploc bag with a slightly damp paper towel and refrigerate it.

Complete the plant submission form found online at http://sanjuan.wsu.edu or at your island Master Gardener booth. San Juan Island clients may take samples to the WSU extension at 221 Weber Way in Friday Harbor, where Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator Connie Domenech will help you. Her office hours are Monday through Thursday, 1-5 p.m.

If you think your problem is so extensive that you may need Master Gardeners to make a site visit, call the extension office to arrange this. Commercial client problems will be addressed by the extension officer in Friday Harbor but samples can be collected by local Master Gardeners.