Have a gardening question? The Master Gardener Helpline at the University of Illinois Extension is open for the season. Designed to help the home gardener with their questions, the helpline is staffed with Master Gardener volunteers who will provide a research-based answer to your home gardening question. Call the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at (815) 235-4125 to reach the Master Gardener Helpline or complete a form online at go.illinois.edu/mghelpline.
The Master Gardener volunteers participate in horticulture training led by University of Illinois Extension Educators. During Master Gardener training, the volunteers learn about all aspects of horticulture, but they also receive training about the resources that the University of Illinois Extension has available.
Each year, the Master Gardeners field various questions from across the county. These calls are logged to identify trends in disease issues or pest populations. Master Gardeners answer homeowners' questions regarding trees, shrubs, perennials, insects, lawns, and more, answering the questions with research-based information from the University of Illinois.
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. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.