SIDNEY – Shelby County Master Gardener volunteers will staff a horticultural “hotline” at the Shelby County Extension office throughout the growing season.

Volunteers will be available from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. every Monday and Thursday from May through September to help with community members’ gardening concerns.

Anyone who has a gardening question or needs a plant or insect identified may call the Extension Office at 498-7239 or stop by the office at 810 Fair Road. Specimens may be dropped off any time during regular office hours, and a Master Gardener volunteer will respond as soon as possible.

Individuals also may email pictures and questions to [email protected]. In some cases, samples may need to be sent to the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in Columbus, and volunteers can help collect and prepare those specimens for submission.

The Extension office does not do soil testing but can provide information about area testing laboratories.

Shelby County Master Gardeners is a volunteer group made up of area residents trained and supervised by Ohio State University Extension. Its goal is to assist local residents obtain timely, research-based horticultural information. While some Extension publications are for sale, most information and services are provided free of charge by the volunteers.

Shelby County Master Gardeners also invites community members to visit the memorial garden located at the Agriculture Service Center on Fair Road.

For further information contact Shelby County Master Gardeners Volunteer Coordinator Doug Benson at 810 Fair Road, Sidney; 937-498-7239 (office); 937-492-5133 (cell) or [email protected].