Ask an Expert
Recently I noticed some strange, bright red and black bugs crawling all over my milkweed plants. I quickly used the camera app on my phone to snap a photo and identify them: large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. Umm…ok, so now what? What I really wanted to know is: Are these good or bad bugs? I decided to seek expert advice and went to the Missouri Botanical Garden website. Here, I discovered everything I needed to know about my new garden guests. As you can imagine, I was relieved to learn that they are, “more of a nuisance than a threat to milkweed plants” and that it was recommended to just leave them be, so I did.
As soon as I became a Memphis Area Master Gardener, everyone started asking me random gardening questions, as if I possessed special gardening powers. While I wish that was the case, my real superpower is that I now know how to find reliable answers to gardening questions. Master Gardeners gain basic horticulture information, but they also become experts on how to use trusted sites to answer gardening questions.
Master Gardeners are Here to Help!
In the Information Age, it can be confusing to know who to trust. Just like you ask a doctor for medical advice, you want to consult a horticulture expert for gardening concerns.
Have a gardening question? Submit a question online and a Memphis Area Master Gardener will help you to find the answer. You can also call the Shelby County Extension Agency at 901-752-1207 Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to speak to an Extension Agent.
Look for Ask A Master Gardener tables at horticulture related events such plant sales and farmer’s markets. You can even request for a Master Gardener to speak at your next club meeting through the Speaker’s Bureau.
Submit a question: https://memphisareamastergardeners.org/ask-a-question/
Speaker’s Bureau: https://memphisareamastergardeners.org/projects/speakers-bureau/
Go-to online sources for Master Gardeners include:
UT Hort – The University of Tennessee Horticulture website offers a variety of educational resources such as planning a garden, growing fruits and vegetables, and caring for your lawn.
Missouri Botanical Gardens – The Plant Finder is helpful for identifying plants and learning how to best care for them. The site also offers advice on insects and sustainable gardening.
https://plantfinder.mobot.org/plantfindersearch.aspx
NC State Plant Toolbox – The North Carolina State Extension Gardener Toolbox has a large collection of plants that you can search to find growing information that is guided by the principle “right plant, right place.”
When looking for a trusted source, make sure that source is in your growing zone and has a similar climate. In addition, seek advice from a reputable horticulture expert such as a university, extension agency, or botanical garden. No matter how you search for your answer, just be sure to ask an expert!
