Garden Help & Diagnostics

📌 Quick Links:
🔹 Help Line Availability
🔹 Insect Identification
🔹 Plant Disease Identification
🔹 Weed Identification
🔹 Soil Testing

Get expert advice on your lawn and garden questions!

📧 Email Assistance (Year-Round):

📍In-Person Help (April – October):

Homeowners can submit insect samples for identification by bringing a dead insect sample to the Portsmouth Extension Office.

✅How to submit:

Place the insect in a pill bottle or jar, well-preserved in isopropyl alcohol.
Master Gardener volunteers or the Extension Agent will try to identify it and make a recommendation if it's a pest.
If we are unable to identify it, we will send it to the Insect ID Lab at Virginia Tech.
Turnaround time is about 15–20 days.

Bring in a plant sample for disease identification.

✅How to submit:

Include the root intact in a zipper-lock bag with one pint of moist soil.
If the Master Gardeners or Extension Agent cannot diagnose the issue, we will send it to the Plant Disease Laboratory at Virginia Tech.
Turnaround time is about 15–20 days.

Not sure what weed is growing in your yard? We can help.

✅How to submit:

Bring a freshly dug weed with roots wrapped in a moist paper towel inside a zipper-lock bag.
If we are unable to identify it, we will send it to the Weed ID Laboratory at Virginia Tech.
Turnaround time is about 15–20 days.

Soil testing helps ensure healthy plants and crops.

✅How to submit:

Pick up soil sample boxes at the Portsmouth Extension Office.
Follow the provided application form and instructions for collecting and mailing your sample.
There is a $10 fee per sample.
It is recommended to test different areas separately (e.g., vegetable beds, ornamental beds, lawn).
A report with recommendations will be mailed to you within two weeks.

Soil testing is recommended every three years to maintain healthy growing conditions.