Whether you're a first-time or long-time gardener, you will someday have a landscape question for which you want help. It may be plant selection for a problem area or the best pest-control method for whatever is eating your azaleas. No matter what your concern, there are many resources available that cost only a few minutes of your time.
In Tyler, we have the Smith County Agriculture Extension Service, an arm of Texas A&M University. Our Extension Horticulture Agent, Keith Hansen, has trained more than 100 of your friends and neighbors as Smith County Master Gardeners. The Master Gardeners are available to answer your questions at the Texas Cooperative Extension office. If they don't know the answer right off, they will research it and call you back. There are also free publications available on many gardening topics.
"What good does that do me? I work Monday through Friday and have most of my gardening questions on the weekends!" Cheer up and pull up a seat at the computer. Many of the publications that are in the Extension Office are available on the web at: http://agpublications.tamu.edu. If your question is specific - like something's bugging you - try http://fireants.tamu.edu or http://insects.tamu.edu. If you want other information, go to http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu and navigate from there. The PlantAnswers area has a wealth of information on common gardening questions. And the Smith Co. Master Gardeners have a site where you can look up information on garden specifics or upcoming gardening events: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/county/smith/mg/mg.html, and http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/county/smith/tips/tips.html. To get to the Smith County Extension Horticulture web site, go to http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/county/smith. The Texas Agriculture Extension Service isn't just for farmers - it's for all of us!
By Carolyn Sunde, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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