extension gardening help that actually answers, not a voicemail box

who to call, email, or just show up to, ranked by whether they get back to you. this shifts season to season, hedging accordingly.

Never miss an update

This list changes over time. Get a short email when it does.

At most one short email a week. Unfollow in one click.

Washington County Master Gardener office (Beaverton)

phone picked up most weekday afternoons, 2-4pm, but only in the growing season. voicemail the rest of the year

Clackamas County Master Gardener office (Oregon City)

answers by phone or email, and if you email a photo you'll usually hear back within a couple days

Multnomah County OSU Extension

no walk-in desk anymore. everything routes through the Ask an Expert form online now, still get a real answer eventualy, just not same-day

Ask Extension (Ask an Expert), online, national tool where a real extension agent answers eventually

Portland Nursery plant counter

not a hotline at all, but bring a sick leaf in and someone IDs it on the spot for free. faster than everything above

farmers market plant clinic pop-up tables, seasonal May through roughly September

a Facebook gardening group with a few retired extension agents in it

unofficial, but often faster than the official channels. take the free advice, still verify anything about pesticides yourself

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

Related lists