HOW DO I...GET HELP WITH MY PLANT AND INSECT PROBLEMS?

The Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic provides free plant diagnostic services for residential customers in Sarasota County. Our trained volunteers can assist with:

• Landscape plant identification
• Assessing nutrient deficiencies or imbalances
• Providing guidance on proper fertilization and soil amendments
• Identifying diseases, insect pests and environmental stressors affecting plants
• Educating residents on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

The Plant Clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, except for federal holidays.

You can use our online form instead if you have high-resolution images of your specimens. Note that some instances might require a sample to be mailed or dropped off. In those situations, our office will contact you with additional instructions.

We aim to provide our clients with a quick but quality response, but please allow up to one week for results.

• How to Submit a Quality Plant Sample for Diagnosis

  Providing a good plant sample is key to getting an accurate diagnosis at the Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic. Follow these simple steps to ensure the best results.

  What Makes a Good Sample?

  • Choose fresh plant material that shows early symptoms of the problem.
  • Avoid samples that are completely dead, brown, or mushy, as these don’t allow for accurate diagnosis.
  • If possible, include multiple plant parts, such as leaves, stems, or roots, to help identify the plant or issue.
  • If there are multiple stages of disease or decline, include enough plant parts to fully illustrate the progression of symptoms.
  • For turfgrass, samples must include all parts of the plant, including grass blades, stolons/rhizomes, roots, and soil.
    • Using a trowel or spade, cut one or two plugs of sod from the boundary edge of an affected patch, so that the plug contains 30-50% healthy green grass, and 50-70% symptomatic grass.
    • Plugs should be no larger or smaller than 4-6" across and 2-3" deep, or the extent of the root zone.
  • Do not submit samples that are wet. This causes rot when packaged. If plants are wet from rain or irrigation, allow to air dry before taking a sample.
  • Please include a completed copy of the plant diagnostic form with your plant sample.

  Packaging Your Sample

  • We do not accept samples that cannot fit into a standard-sized plastic shopping bag or gallon-sized zipper-style plastic bag.
  • For plants with roots: Leave some soil attached and place the roots in a bag, securing it at the base of the stem.
  • For leaves or foliage: Wrap them in newspaper before placing them in a loosely closed plastic bag.
  • Keep the sample fresh: Store it in a cool place and bring it to the clinic as soon as possible.
• How to Submit a Quality Pest Sample for Diagnosis

  Have an unwanted pest in the garden? Or an unwelcome visitor to the pantry? The key to sustainable and efficient pest control starts with identifying the pest itself.

  Insect identification services are provided at no cost to Sarasota County residents. Other arthropods besides insects are also accepted, including mites, ticks, spiders, and millipedes. Management information, when applicable, will be provided along with the identification.

  If you are interested in using our service, you can drop off a specimen at our Plant Clinic or front desk from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays, except for federal holidays.

  You can use our online form instead if you have high resolution images of your specimens to share. Note that some instances may require a sample to be mailed or dropped off, but we will reach out to you if that is the case.

  We aim to provide our clients with a quick but quality response, but please allow up to one week for results.

  Alternatively, samples can be sent to the University of Florida’s Insect ID Lab for identification for a fee of $8 per sample. The instructions on how to submit a sample, as well as a downloadable submission form, can be found at the Insect ID Lab website.

  Any insects or arthropods provided for identification need to be clearly visible to the naked eye.

  Insect preparation and storage guidelines:

  Make sure samples are stored properly before turning them in - either to us or to the UF Insect ID Lab. Fresh, undamaged samples are always best! The quality of the specimen will affect the quality of the identification. Insects and other arthropods can be killed by freezing or direct placement into an alcohol solution.

  • Small insects and mites should be kept in a 70% alcohol solution (rubbing alcohol works great!). Please place liquids in a leak-proof container, such as a lidded jar, sized appropriately for the specimen(s). Do not use plastic, zipper-style bags for liquids. You can use a paint brush to pick up the specimen and transfer it into the alcohol solution.
  • Adult moths and butterflies should be kept dry, and care taken not to damage the wings. Place them in a container or plastic, zipper-style bag that can be closed tightly.
  • Most adult insects that are more than 5 mm in length can be placed in a plastic, zipper-style bag or other container.
  • If dealing with caterpillars or soft-bodied larvae, there are two choices:
    1. The preferred way: Bring in the LIVE specimen along with the plant you found them on. Be sure to have them in a ventilated container. Put multiple small holes in the lid if using a jar or tub.
    2. Alternatively, dip them in hot water, then transfer to an alcohol solution.
  • If the insect is damaging a plant or structure, try to include that damage with your sample. This will also help with identification efforts. You may keep it with the insect sample, or in a separate container.
  • Keep specimens in the refrigerator or freezer until you can bring them into the office. A specimen left outdoors or in the car becomes brittle and extremely difficult to identify. The specimen needs to be pliable to allow it to be manipulated for proper identification.

  Other tips for sample preparation and storage can be found in the "Insect Identification Service" document provided by the UF/IFAS EDIS service.

We do not accept the following:

• Excrement or other biohazards
• Water samples
• Clothing or personal items
• More than five sample containers at once

If you are a commercial grower, landscaper, or turf manager in need of diagnostic support, please use the following UF/IFAS services:

• Turfgrass diagnostics: Rapid Turf Diagnostics Service
• Soil testing: UF/IFAS Soil Testing Services
• Plant disease identification: UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Clinic
• Nematode assay Testing: UF Nematology Assay Lab
• Other diagnostic services: UF/IFAS Diagnostics