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Fluvanna Master Gardeners

Fluvanna Master Gardeners. Orientation HORTICULTURAL HELP DESK April 5, 2016. Donna McCarthy, FMG. Fluvanna Master Gardeners.

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Fluvanna Master Gardeners

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  1. Fluvanna Master Gardeners

  2. Orientation HORTICULTURAL HELP DESK April 5, 2016 Donna McCarthy, FMG

  3. Fluvanna Master Gardeners VCE Master Gardeners are volunteers working in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices in the community through sustainable landscape management. VCE-MGs play a vital role in educating and reaching out to our local communities. Wear your nametag!! Phone: (434) 591-1950 Website: www.fluvannamg.org

  4. Fluvanna VCE Staff John ThompsonUnit CoordinatorExtension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources Animal Science Kimberly MayoExtension Agent, 4-H Youth Development Faye AndersonSCNEP Program Assistant Erin DavisUnit Administrative Assistant

  5. Horticultural Help Desk at – • Fluvanna County Extension Office in Fork Union on Route 15. • Phone/email coverage from home. • Fluvanna County Library, off Route 53, Palmyra • Tuesdays, 2:00 – 5:00 pm from April through October. • One Saturday a month, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, from April through October. • Various Community Events – Earth Day, FMG Annual Plant Sale, Old Farm Day, Fluvanna County Fair, Workshops, etc.

  6. Purpose of the Help Desk We research and answer questions about home gardening and related landscape issues for residents of Fluvanna County.

  7. We do not provide this service to residents of other counties or states. Instead, we refer them to their own VCE office and/ or Master Gardeners….. Why??

  8. There are a few other things we don’t do…

  9. We don’t do commercial or farm management – refer to Extension AgentWHY?

  10. Also, we don’t…

  11. Don’t recommend brand name products – instead use generic or chemical names….

  12. Don’t use unapproved sources…. • ….Instead use approved, research based references.…such as .edu or selected .org or .gov sites or scientifically based texts or writings.

  13. Do NOT use any reference except the current Pest Management Guide when recommending a pest control….

  14. 4H Shed at Community Garden, Pleasant Grove, Rte 53, Palmyra(go to album)

  15. g What kinds of things do people ask us? See table

  16. Help Desk Data Log Problems - Total Jan - Dec = 69 in 2010 27 in 2011 24 in 2012 38 in 2013 39 in 2014 26 in 2015 Grand Total 1529 Community Contacts - Total April – Oct = 112 in 2010 193 in 2011 157 in 2012 448 in 2013 202 in 2014 * no OFD # 194 in 2015 * As of 2015 - No longer at Farmers’ Market; Library instead See spreadsheet for details.

  17. How do we go about diagnosing plant problems?

  18. Diagnosing the Problem • •ID the plant • •What’s normal? Is there a problem? • •Look for Patterns (ask for more pictures of plant in landscape or more parts of it) • •Determine Progression • •Define/Describe the problem • •Ask Questions & Synthesize All Info • •Research Common Problems First • •Send to Lab for Diagnosis/Confirmation • •Choose Course of Action

  19. Now...for our crystal clear procedures……….

  20. To FMG website for…… • Fluvanna Master Gardener Help Desk Forms • Contact Sheet • HORTICULTURE HELP DESK LOG • Shift Check Off List – office use

  21. Fluvanna Master Gardeners Help Desk Contact Sheet: 2016 1 Cultural Information 2 Pesticide/IPM Requests 3 Ornamentals/Tree ID 4 Weed/Fungus ID 5 Insect ID 6 Plant/Tree Culture Problem 7 Plant/Tree Disease 8 Plant/Tree Insect Problem 9 Nuisance Insect Problem 10 Other Nuisance Critter 11 Lawn 12 Ponds 13 Plant Recommendations 14 Where Can I Find/Buy 15 Speaker Requests 16 Other 17 Master Gardener Information

  22. HELP DESK LOG

  23. Virginia Cooperative Extension/ Fluvanna Master Gardeners PO Box 133 Palmyra VA 22963 􀁺Phone: (434) 591-1950 HORTICULTURE HELP DESK/FARMERS MARKET LOG 􀂉 Walk-In 􀂉 Phone 􀂉 Email 􀂉 Farmers Market…Problem # (ex: 01/01/12- 1) ________________-____ Date: ____________ Plant:___________________________Cultivar/Variety:____________________ Client’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________Email:________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________________________State:_____Zip______________ County: ________________________ Volunteer Name: ____________________________________ Recommendation for: 􀂉Home Lawn/Garden 􀂉Commercial Production 􀂉Lawn/Landscape Mgmt 􀂉Other Problem Type (fill in correct number from list):_______ 1 Cultural Information…. 2 Pesticide/IPM Requests… 3 Ornamentals/Tree ID… 4 Weed/Fungus ID…. 5 Insect ID 6 Plant/Tree Culture Problem … 7 Plant/Tree Disease… 8 Plant/Tree Insect Problem…. 9 Nuisance Insect Problem…. 10 Other Nuisance Critter Problem…. 11 Lawn…. 12 Ponds…. 13 Plant Recommendations… 14 Where Can I Find/Buy… 15 Speaker Requests… 16 Other…. 17 Master Gardener Information Describe question/problem – see back for related info to ask about – and, in addition, if sending a sample to VT Plant Clinic, use appropriate separate Plant Clinic form for disease diagnosis, weed or insect ID ( give sample collection instruction sheet, note –send dead insects only): _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  24. Answer/Action Taken: 􀂉Soil Test Box &Directions given 􀂉 Sample Instructions given 􀂉 Website List given _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Referred To: 􀂉 VT Other: ______________________________________________________________________ Follow-up Required/Recommended: ______________________________________________________________ CLOSED—No further action required CLOSED BY: _________________________________________ DATE CLOSED: ________________

  25. SECTION #1: PLANT DISEASE DIAGNOSIS Disease Distribution 􀂉General 􀂉Scattered Plants 􀂉In spots/groups 􀂉Certain Cultivar 􀂉In Low Areas 􀂉Upland Areas 􀂉Other:_____________ Part Affected 􀂉Root 􀂉Crown 􀂉Stem/branch 􀂉Leaves 􀂉Flower 􀂉Fruit 􀂉Seeds General Appearance 􀂉Wilted 􀂉Yellowed 􀂉Stunted 􀂉Stained/Streaked 􀂉Leaf spot/Blight 􀂉Leaf Mottle 􀂉Other:_____________ Size of total planting_____________ # of Plants affected _________ First noticed ____________ Location Garden 􀂉Landscape 􀂉Indoor Plant Has this every occurred previously? 􀂉Unknown 􀂉No 􀂉Yes—When___________________________ Weather Conditions 􀂉Normal 􀂉Rainy 􀂉Dry 􀂉Cold 􀂉Other:___________________________ Have plants been irrigated? 􀂉No 􀂉Yes 􀂉How much __________________________________ Soil: Chemicals/Pesticides applied (method/rate/date)? 􀂉None 􀂉Unknown 􀂉Yes—Describe:___________ 􀂉Growth regulator 􀂉Fertilizer 􀂉Fungicide 􀂉Insecticide 􀂉Herbicide 􀂉 Herbicide previous year 􀂉Nematicide 􀂉Nematicide previous year *Woody Plants Only: Fruit Trees/Grapes Root Stock:_____________ Fruit bearing age 􀂉Yes 􀂉No Trees/shrubs/fruit trees/vines: Approx age_______ Height__________ Stem Diameter____________ Canopy 􀂉Few/no dead limbs 􀂉20-50% dead 􀂉50% or more dead Number of Year in present site: 􀂉Less then 2 􀂉2-4 􀂉4-10 􀂉10+ Exposure: 􀂉Full Sun 􀂉Partial Sun 􀂉Full Shade 􀂉Windy 􀂉Protected Condition of trunk: 􀂉Healthy 􀂉Light damage 􀂉Heavy damage—Describe:_______________________ Root damage or soil disturbance from: 􀂉Sidewalks/driveways 􀂉Trenches 􀂉Retaining walls 􀂉Compaction 􀂉Other construction activities—Describe:_______________________________________

  26. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SECTION #2: INSECT IDENTIFICATION / DIAGNOSIS Plant Pests Distribution: 􀂉One plant􀂉Several plants 􀂉Scattered 􀂉Clumped 􀂉Wide spread􀂉Entire area Damage: 􀂉Roots 􀂉Bark 􀂉Twigs/stems 􀂉Leaves 􀂉Buds 􀂉Fruit Household/structural pests: In what part of the building/house was insect found?__________________ Insect Quantity: 􀂉None observed 􀂉Gone 􀂉Few 􀂉Common 􀂉Abundant 􀂉Extreme Date of first appearance: ____________ Describe damage, problem, seriousness: ______________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Describe the Insect: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Previous occurrence and any control applied: ____________________________________________________________________________________ SECTION #3: WEED IDENTIFICATION Procedure: Send as complete a plant as possible—include leaves, stems, roots, flowers and seed. Remove soil from roots. Describe weed: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Growing Area (sunny, shade, wet, dry, soil type, etc): ______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Herbicides applied & when: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Percent of area infested by weed?____________% Weed distribution: 􀂉scattered 􀂉clumps of plants

  27. Shift Check Off List Help Desk SHIFT CHECK-OFF LIST when at VCE Office DATE________ SHIFT VOLUNTEERS: __________________________________________________________________________________ _____Check in at Front Desk, Pick up mail for Help Desk _____Check Inbox on Desk _____Review Log Book for Current Problems/Unresolved Inquiries: use small post-its to flag those needing follow up, remove when complete. _____Check previous Shift Check-Off List and any notes left by prior shifts _____Check voicemail messages _____Check email – Turn on computer, pw is “G0H0kies”. Click on Outlook Express, click on Inbox. If help request, fill out the HD Log Form. If respond via email, be sure to print out hard copy and file response in Log Book stapled to the Log form. Then delete from Outlook. If NOT a help request, please forward to appropriate person. FMG’s phones/emails are in Log Book. If not sure, forward to HD Coordinator and leave a note for next shift. _____Print and mail out email VT plant clinic reports. Leave box unsealed for VCE agent to review before mailing. _____Move completed emails that you wish to save online into “Archive” on Outlook by opening document, click on File top left, click on Move to Folder, select appropriate Help Desk folder, click OK. Help Desk Coordinator will delete other, unnecessary emails. LIST SAMPES MAILED TO VCE: Problem #/Client Name Plant Type Problem _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes to Next Shift__________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHUT DOWN COMPUTER and TURN OFF PRINTER. Thanks!

  28. VCE/VT Clinic Forms - Wherever possible, also email pictures!! • Plant Disease Diagnostic Form • Publication 450-097, 2014 • Insect Identification and Diagnosis Request • Publication ENTO-152NP, 2015 • Weed Identification Record Form – give to VCE Agent for online entry • Publication 450-138, 2004 • Soil Sample Information Sheet for Home Lawns, Gardens, Fruits, and Ornamentals; Sample Box – client mails in or takes to VCE • Publication 452-125, 2015

  29. Role Play Question One Client - I have never planted tomatoes before and want to plant seedlings which I will buy at a local nursery. I have a sunny garden with moderate drainage. How do I select a variety to grow? What do I need to do when planting? How do I maintain them?

  30. Role Play Question Two Client – I have a variety of shrubs and flowering perennials in my garden. I suspect one of my plants has a disease. How do I decide if my plant has a disease? Where can I go for information?

  31. FMG Website – www.fluvannamg.org • Help Desk Procedures – download documents • Help Desk Sample Answers – what to include • Help Desk Tab – Forum FAQ Knowledge Base • Help Desk Sign Up – link to VMS Login, go to Event Calendar • FMG Webmail – you are NOT you – you Log IN on www.fluvannamg.org/webmail as info@fluvannamg.org • Wear your FMG nametag!!!

  32. VMGA Master Gardener Login • Welcome to the VMGA Master Gardener Login. Login here with your email and password, and you will be routed to the Master Gardener Volunteer Management System you attempted to access. • If you do not know your password, click the link below requesting password assistance. • Enter your email address and password to login. • Email Address • Password • THIS IS A SHARED COMPUTER - DON'T REMEMBER MY EMAIL ADDRESS

  33. Homework Assignment- • Send a "hello" note from the FMG webmail to donnamc47@yahoo.com – don’t forget to sign your name! If you have a problem, email Donna McCarthy thru VMS. • AND • Log on to the FMG HD sign up page - then follow directions to VMS, log in thereand click on the Help Desk on April 12 on the General Events Calendar and register asa volunteer. You can “unvolunteer” your name as soon as I notify you that I received the system notification of your registration.

  34. To Wrap Up…. n Thanks for volunteering!

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