Clinic Hours
Visit during our scheduled clinic hours for free plant diagnostic assistance.
Check our events calendar for current hours.
The Plant Clinic is one of our most valuable community services. Staffed by trained Master Gardener volunteers, our Plant Clinic provides free diagnostic assistance to help you identify and solve plant problems. Whether you are dealing with a mysterious disease, unknown insect pest, or challenging growing conditions, our volunteers can help you find answers.
Our Plant Clinic operates as a walk-in service during scheduled hours. You can bring in plant samples, photographs, or simply describe your problem. Our trained volunteers will:
The American Phytopathological Society and university plant pathology labs provide the scientific foundation for our diagnostic work. We use the same evidence-based approaches employed by professional plant diagnosticians.
To help us diagnose your problem effectively, please follow these guidelines when collecting samples:
The more context you can provide, the better we can help:
Our Plant Clinic volunteers regularly help with questions including:
Washington State University's Master Gardener Program reported that 3,870 plant clinics across Washington answered 63,008 questions in its 2025 impact report. Those figures illustrate the scale of gardening education in that statewide program.
For insect questions, identification also helps put invasive-species reports in context. Washington State Department of Agriculture hornet information records the northern giant hornet's eradication at the end of 2024 and a yellow-legged hornet photographed at the Port of Vancouver in April 2026. For the distinction between those reports and guidance on plant movement, see the guide to invasive insects to watch.
While helping you care for your plants, our volunteers are also happy to share practical safety advice for working in the garden. Prolonged gardening sessions can lead to repetitive strain, sunburn, and exposure to soil-borne organisms. We encourage all gardeners to take regular breaks, use ergonomic tools, wear sun protection, and practice proper lifting techniques when moving heavy containers or bags of soil.
Gardeners who work with thorny plants, power tools, or chemical treatments should also take appropriate precautions. Wearing gloves, keeping tetanus vaccinations current, and storing chemicals safely are simple measures that protect your health while you care for your landscape.
Visit our resources page for links to Extension publications and online diagnostic tools you can use at home.
Visit during our scheduled clinic hours for free plant diagnostic assistance.
Check our events calendar for current hours.
Clear, detailed photographs can help us identify many problems. Include close-ups and wide shots showing the whole plant.