Got an insect, weed, or plant problem? We can help! At the Prince William County Extension Master Gardener Horticulture Help Desk, located at 8033 Ashton Avenue, Suite 105, Manassas, VA 20109.
Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer questions Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (except on holidays).
- In Person
Drop by the office during Help Desk hours (please call before you come, to be sure there is someone in the office to help you). NOTE: We do not take samples on Thursdays or Fridays. - By Phone
Call 703-792-7747 to speak to a Master Gardener or leave a message with your name and phone number and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Make sure to leave an email address if you have to leave a voice message. - Via Email
- Submit your question to us directly by email with background information found in this form. Or you can print and scan this form to return to us.
- Please send this information and your photos via email to mastergardener@pwcgov.org; volunteers are checking daily and responding in a timely manner.
What do we need to know in advance?
Before you contact us, check out this VCE publication with helpful plant problem diagnosis tips.
The more information we have, the better we are at diagnosing your problem (weeds, plant problems, insects). For example, samples or photos of plants or insects are extremely helpful. (See video below on how to take a good photograph.) Please provide healthy and diseased or damaged parts from each plant, preferably on the same sample. It also would be helpful to know when they were planted, how often and how long you water them, whether any fertilizer, pesticides or fungicides have been used on or near them, and whether you have noticed any insect infestation (in which case, please try to bring in a specimen) or other insect related damage to plant tissues. And don’t be surprised if we recommend soil testing – soil tests kits are available at our office. NOTE: We do not accept samples on Thursdays, Fridays, or at any plant clinics. Please bring samples in Monday – Wednesday only. And please note, please do not bring in snakes, dead or alive; send or bring photos instead.
Plant Disease or Insect ID Diagnostic Services
There is no charge for plant disease or insect ID diagnostic services provided in the Prince William VCE Office. Hours of the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk are 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday. Please make sure that your name is on both the form AND the sample container.
Plant Disease Clinic at VCE
If we can’t identify the disease in the Manassas office we can send your problem to the Plant Disease Clinic at Virginia Tech. There is be a $35.00 fee for samples submitted to the VCE Clinic at Virginia Tech. The $35 fee applies to both digital and physical samples. If we are not able to diagnose the problem from a digital submission, we will request a physical sample and there will be no additional fee incurred by the client. If a sample is diagnosed as “Insufficient”, a second sample (representing the same plant/problem) may be submitted and there will be no additional fee incurred by the client. (Simply include the “insufficient” diagnostic report when re-submitting the second sample—either as a hardcopy or a digital copy.) Refunds will not be given.
Payment will not be handled by the Plant Disease Clinic. Fees must be paid through Destiny One and the client must create an account in Destiny One where you will pay by credit card.
For more information about how to submit a sample or to see a photo gallery of common plant problems please visit the VCE Plant Disease Clinic page.
INSECTS: Please bring a copy of the Insect Sample Form when bringing an insect intothe office for identification. Our Help Desk staff will try to identify your insect and provide advice on how to control or attract this insect in your yard. The VCE Insect Lab may also be able to identify your insects from images. If for any reason we are unable to ID the insect, images of the insect can be sent to the VCE Clinic at Virginia Tech Insect Lab There is no charge for identifying insects unless a sample is requested/sumitted to the Insect Lab at VCE.
How to Take Good Diagnostic Photos
For best results, submit MEDIUM SIZED photos of:
- the entire plant
- the branch or section of the plant that is in question
- with closeups of the problem, the top and bottom of a leaf if applicable, and the signs of insects if applicable.
Tips for taking a picture of an insect
- Put it in the freezer for a few minutes to slow it down enough to take a good picture;
- Put it on a piece of sticky paper to slow it down;
- Don’t smash it;
- Place it inside of a small glass jar.
We recommend you watch Elaine Mills’ video on plant identification for tips on how to take the best photos to submit to the Help Desk.
Another excellent resource is Clemson University’s
Tips for Taking Good Photos to Send to Your Extension Agent.
Need a Soil Test?
Soil Test Supplies and Locations:
- Bull Run Library – 8051 Ashton Avenue, Manassas
- Central Community Library – 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas
- Chinn Park Library – 10365 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge
- Haymarket Gainesville Library – 14870 Lightner Road, Haymarket
- Montclair Library – 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries
- Potomac Library – 2201 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge
- Master Gardener Plant Clinics and Farmer Markets
- VCE Prince William Manassas Office
See our BEST Lawn page for more information regarding soil tests for your lawn or garden.
You will mail your samples to the Virginia Tech Soil Testing lab using the address on the Soil Sample for Home Lawns, Gardens, Fruits, and Ornamentals Information Sheet that accompanies the container. Use the Soil Sample for Commercial Crop Production Information Sheet for agricultural soil tests.
Allow 2 weeks for results to be returned via email. For help with interpretation or a missing report please contact our office at 703-792-7747.