The University of Illinois Extension is offering a helpline for the growing season in Winnebago County. The helpline is designed to help the home gardener with their horticulture questions. Master Gardener Volunteers staff the helpline and are physically located in the Extension office, 1040 N. Second Street, Rockford from 9:00 am to noon Mondays and Wednesdays through November. They can also be reached by phone at 815-986-4357 at any time (messages will be taken). 

Each year, the Master Gardeners field a variety of questions from across the county. Resources will be shared via email, through the US mail service or can be picked up in the office. Often, related materials will be printed for the caller and mailed. Soil test kits are also available in the Extension office and can be picked up for no charge. Once results are received, individuals are encouraged to meet with a Master Gardener if they have questions.

Master Gardeners are volunteers that go through horticulture training led by University of Illinois Extension Educators. During the training they learn about all aspect of horticulture but they also receive training about the resources that the University of Illinois Extension has available for them to use. A Master Gardener has the ability to find research based information from the University to provide to homeowners when they call with a question.

"Each year the calls to the helpline are documented so that we know the types of questions are coming in and where in the county the questions are coming from" stated Margaret Larson, Extension County Director, "it helps us to identify trends and key issues for that particular growing season." Questions fielded include those about trees and shrubs, lawns and turf grasses, vegetables, bugs and diseases.

To contact the Master Gardener Helpline please call the University of Illinois Extension-Winnebago County at (815) 986-4357. More information about Extension and horticulture resources can be found at go.illinois.edu/jsw.