Washington County Master Gardener Program

Plant

What is the problem plant(s) or issue?

Identify the plant: Common name, scientific name, variety/cultivar.  Compare your plant to a healthy specimen of the same species/variety.  Is there a problem?

What symptoms and signs are present on the plant(s) in question?

Symptoms (the plants response to stress or invader): dieback, changes in color/ pattern, blotches, curl, necrosis, shothole, wilt, scorch, rot, scab, gall, mosaic, mottle, ringspot, stunted growth, water soaked.                                         

Signs (evidence of other organisms interacting): fungal fruiting bodies, frass, insects, cast skins, mycelium.

What part of the plant is affected?

Roots, trunk, stems, branches, leaves, flowers.

How much of the plant is affected?

Estimate the percent damaged.

Plant’s Environment

Where is the plant located?

Think about soil, sun, shade, drainage, nearby structures and materials, container size if applicable.

What is the appearance of nearby plants? 

Do they have the same symptoms?

What have the weather patterns been?

Freezes, excess heat, hail, wind, etc.

What’s going on nearby?  Is the problem spreading?

Possible sources of injury or pesticide drift.

Cultural Conditions

What is the history of the soil where the plant is growing?

Think compaction, new development, toxins.

If recently planted, how was it done?

How was the soil prepared? Was it watered in?

How much/often is the plant watered?

Watering is critical for newly planted or transplanted plants for at least the first 2 years after planting.

Treatments to Date

What treatments have been applied?

Which treatments?  When?  Application rate? Results?