The last few years certainly have been a challenge for many of us. One unexpected consequence of the pandemic? Many who were quarantined at home decided to become gardeners. Seed companies reported a boom in sales during the pandemic and, unlike other trends, (zoom cocktails, sourdough starters or dress shirts with pajama bottoms), it looks like gardening is here to stay. To those new to gardening and to those more seasoned gardeners, we are here to help you every step of the way.
We are the UConn Home and Garden Education Center, which is made up of three branches; the education center; the soil nutrient analysis laboratory; and the plant diagnostic laboratory. The education center is your first point of contact, where you will be greeted by horticultural consultants Dennis Tsui, Pamm Cooper and Marie Woodward. Our mission is to answer your questions about anything related to home gardens and landscapes. Our goal is to give you the best science-based response. In addition, we often rely on our other two branches for information, but that’s just the start of the services they provide.
Good gardening begins with knowing all you can about your soil, and The UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory, headed by Dawn Pettinelli, Associate Cooperative Extension Educator, provides home gardeners a means to test the fertility of their soil and, through a comprehensive report, receive environmentally sound fertilizer and lime recommendations.
Identifying the cause and nature of plant problems is often the key to maintaining healthy gardens and landscapes, and that’s where Dr. Nick Goltz, plant pathologist, comes in. He heads the Uconn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory and is an expert in diagnosing plant problems including diseases, insect pests and abiotic causes. Dr. Goltz has a passion for plant health and integrated pest management, (IPM). He especially enjoys working with homeowners to find holistic and comprehensive solutions for any plant problem they may have.
The three branches of the center are available to gardeners year-round. To access our services, you can reach us by phone, (860-877-6271), by email, (ladybug@uconn.edu), or you can visit the center the Radcliffe Hicks Arena, 1380 Storrs Road, unit 4115, Storrs, CT. Our hours are Monday- Friday 8:30am -4:30pm.
Collecting and Submitting Samples
One of the most common questions we are asked is how to collect samples that are of good diagnostic quality. Each laboratory website has detailed instructions on how to do so. For the Soil Nutrient Analysis lab, there is a page with instructions on how to submit a soil sample at:
The plant diagnosis laboratory has a form with instructions on how to collect plant sample at the bottom of the submission page:
Samples can be mailed in or brought into our center during our office hours, (see above).
Emailing us with a question?
If you’re emailing us with a question or problem, it can be helpful, (but not necessary), to include a few photos with it. This can help us determine our response.
To learn more, you can visit our website: http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/ where you will find the latest news, blogs and fact sheets about all things for your home garden. We are ready to help make your home garden a success year after year.
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