"The nature of my business is plant health care, so a correct diagnosis on submitted plant samples is important.  The location of the lab and the cost for this service work well for my business.  Correctly knowing the problem with plants on my clients’ property allows me to effectively correct or control the problems.  Copies of the reports received from the PDL are forwarded to my clients.  This allows them to better understand the tools that my company uses to better care for their plants and allows my company to offer more services related to plant health.

Thanks again for the Plant Diagnostic Lab!!"

"It is always a pleasure to work with the UNH plant diagnostics lab. The level of professionalism is 2^nd to none! They’re always there to answer any questions I have and to tell me about what exactly it was that killed my plants. They provide a great service to growers in that we always have someplace to turn for disease diagnostics and spray recommendations (if needed). They are always willing to go above and beyond what’s asked of them. It’s been my experience that when all of my resources have been exhausted Dr. Smith and the diagnostics team are right there to fill in the blanks. They are the ones to turn to first when plants need saving. They also do a wonderful job in the off season with relaying information to growers via conferences, lectures, etc and are unquestionably one of my most useful tools as a grower."

"A few months ago I spoke with Cheryl Smith of UNH's plant diagnostic lab concerning some major problems with my raspberry, blackberry and blueberry bushes. She thought it would be best if I brought samples to be analyzed, which I did. Cheryl gave my some verbal suggestions to be followed by a written report after the plants were studied. In September I brought in another set of samples.  Cheryl asked me many questions and made suggestions including removal of all the landscape fabric around the plants to help [discourage] voles and other creatures. I found the written reports timely and informative. 

Presently, my berry patch has never looked better. The plants are tinned out, the beds are clean and I am waiting for spring to apply lime sulfur to fix some fungus problems."

After visiting growers on-site, several growers have expressed interested in improving their crop quality with the use of plant growth regulators

New Hampshire's population now exceeds 1,288,000. Each year UNHCE receives thousands of requests from New Hampshire citizens for education and information on a wide range of topics including home gardening, wildlife, household pests, food preparation and food safety, trees and shrubs and many other topics.

When you support volunteer Master Gardener education programs, participants will increase their knowledge of home horticulture and UNHCE resources, and learn how to apply that knowledge and UNHCE resources. As a result, participants will be able to accurately answer consumer calls and requests for information, and teach others about home horticulture and how to make changes to their surroundings that optimize the safe use of their properties while protecting the environment. This will benefit the community by expanding the impact of UNHCE’s programs, free up Extension Educators’ time, and increase the ability of NH’s citizens to enjoy the benefits of home horticulture and sustain the economic, aesthetic and environmental benefits of NH agriculture.

"Cheryl Smith and the UNH Plant Diagnostic Lab have helped us out in a number of ways in the past year.  We run into a great deal physiological, disease, and insect problems over the course of a growing season.  While many of these problems are diagnosed by our growers, there are always a number of issues that require some outside help.  This year we sent in a variety of samples including:  leaf distortion on Bellis quarts, leaf spots and discoloration on impatiens pots and flats, and distorted growth and blight on several nursery stock items.  These are 3 examples of problems we sent to UNH where we could not come up with the answer on our own.  In all three of these cases, the information provided by the lab allowed us to control or eliminate the problem and quite literally save the crops.  Considering the monetary value applied to these and other crop problems we’ve had, I certainly appreciate the information we have gotten from the UNH Plant Diagnostic Lab.

"Over the past year, the growers [here] have utilized the services of the Plant Diagnostic Lab at UNH on several occasions.  We appreciate the fast turnaround time and the excellent recommendations that we receive.  Not only do we receive a written report, we also get a phone call from Cheryl Smith to let us know what was found.  This helps us to react quickly to address the problem. We have always been given specific recommendations that included cultural and chemical controls where needed.  In some cases where no pathogens were found, it kept us from applying chemical controls when we were actually facing a physiological issue.

The problems we sent in for diagnosis ranged from potted blueberries with leaf spots to begonias that were rooting unevenly and exhibiting some necrosis.  We also had some issues with poinsettias that had foliar stunting.  We appreciate the way the extension specialists work together as well.  If Cheryl does not see a pathogen as an issue, she confers with pest and nutritional specialists for their input.  Their assistance has definitely helped us to target our control measures appropriately."

New Hampshire's population now exceeds 1,288,000. Each year UNHCE receives thousands of requests from New Hampshire citizens for education and information on a wide range of topics including home gardening, wildlife, household pests, food preparation and food safety, trees and shrubs and many other topics.

When you support volunteer Master Gardener education programs, participants will increase their knowledge of home horticulture and UNHCE resources, and learn how to apply that knowledge and UNHCE resources. As a result, participants will be able to accurately answer consumer calls and requests for information, and teach others about home horticulture and how to make changes to their surroundings that optimize the safe use of their properties while protecting the environment. This will benefit the community by expanding the impact of UNHCE’s programs, free up Extension Educators’ time, and increase the ability of NH’s citizens to enjoy the benefits of home horticulture and sustain the economic, aesthetic and environmental benefits of NH agriculture.