BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – New gardeners and everyone discovering landscape issues or questions have a local source of assistance. Master Gardeners can help find answers to perennial questions like “What’s wrong with my tree?” or “How do I grow the best tomatoes?” Master Gardeners are trained by university specialists, and as part of their service to the community, they want to make everyone more successful gardeners. The Master Gardeners have helped homeowners save their trees, fix landscape issues, identify insects, and give tips on growing vegetables and fruits.

The community can contact McLean County Master Gardeners in four ways:

• Visit in person at the Walk-In McLean County Master Gardener Help Desk from 9 a.m. to Noon, every Wednesday from June 1 to close on October 27. The help desk is located at the McLean County Extension Office at 1615 Commerce Parkway in Bloomington.
• Call them at the McLean County Extension Office at 309-663-8306.
• Email them at uiemg-mclean@illinois.edu.
• Visit the website and fill out a Help Desk Virtual Form requesting an answer to your gardening question at go.illinois.edu/MGhelpdesk.

Looking for more gardening content? Remember to tune in and listen for your local Master Gardener panel from 4 to 5 p.m. featured on WJBC - AM1230 on July 14, August 11, and September 8.

Master Gardeners offer a few tips making gardening a more enjoyable experience this season:

1. Start small! Transforming the whole back yard may be the goal, but start with some outdoor pots, a corner garden, or small additions to existing landscaping.
2. Before you plant, know how you will attack the weeds competing with your plants. Try a shuffle hoe or Dutch garden hoe, which allows you to uproot small weed seedlings without bending over. If weeds get too big, mow or weed whack before they flower and seed. Weed early and weed often!
3. Check your garden daily. Be diligent. Pay attention to the plants. Have fun watching them grow and caring for them. Know that summer watering is mandatory as plants grow and the temperatures rise.
4. Start with easy-to-grow vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, leafy greens, and herbs. Start with easy-to-grow annuals like dragon wing begonias, zinnias, sweet alyssum, or marigolds.
5. If you want to plant a new tree or shrub, go native!

If you need an accommodation in order to participate, please contact the McLean County Extension Office at the phone number listed above. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

WRITER: Kelly Allsup, Horticulture Educator, University of Illinois Extension (Livingston, McLean, Woodford)

ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.