Lee County Extension
Horticulture Help Desk

Lee County IFAS Horticulture Help Desk
3406 Palm Beach Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL 33916

 

Manned by:
Master Gardeners
  Direct Phone:      239-533-7505
  Email:                    EServicesGardener@leegov.com

        And

Horticulture Specialist     Peggy Cruz
Direct Phone:                    239-533-7504
Email:                                  Cruzph@leegov.com

 

The Horticulture Help Desk is manned by volunteer Master Gardeners and a Horticulture Specialist who are able answer your horticulture and environmental questions.

OFFICE HOURS:  Monday-Friday 9am-12pm
                                and 1pm-4pm
OFFICE VISIT:       3406 Palm Beach Blvd.,
                                Ft. Myers, FL 33916
PHONE:                  239-533-7505 or 239-533-7504
Email:                      EServicesGardener@leegov.com  
                                                         or
                                Cruzph@leegov.com

Office Closed for Holiday Observances 2012:

Monday	May 27, 2013	Memorial Day
Thursday	July 4, 2013	Independent Day
Monday	September 2, 2013	Labor Day
Monday	November 11, 2013	Veteran's Day
Thursday/Friday	November 28-29, 2013	Thanksgiving
Tuesday/Wednesday	December 24-25, 2013	Christmas

For plant disease/problem diagnosis: If possible provide a sample showing both diseased and healthy tissue on the same sample. Samples should have stems or branches 6” long or longer. Please provide a fresh sample.  If a sample needs to be sent to the University of Florida Diagnostic Lab the charge is $40 per sample.

For plant identification: Provide as many parts of the plant including (if possible): flowers, fruit, leaves. Provide a 6”-12” or larger freshly collected sample. If we are not able to identify your sample in our office we will send it to the University of Florida Herbarium at no charge to our customer.

For insects: Collect one or more complete insect specimen(s) and place in a container or plastic bag. With the use of a microscope we can display the enlarged insect on a computer screen to help us with identification. If you are unable to bring insects samples to our office, you can send undamaged (live or dead) insects in a crush-proof container such as a pill bottle or film canister taping the top onto the container.  Mail them in a padded envelope or box with a brief note explaining where you found the insects.  Do not tape insects to paper or place them loose in envelopes.  Insect fragments or crushed insect samples are almost impossible to identify.  If we are unable to make a positive identification of the insect in our office we will send a sample to the University of Florida Entomology Department at no charge to our customer.

Soil testing: Soil and water testing are preformed in our office. Soil pH and water salinity are tested once weekly. A one cup sample of soil or water is needed for each test. Please bring your sample(s) in a disposable container. You may drop off 1-6 samples, but no more than 6. Clearly mark each sample location so you will know where the sample came from in your landscape. Example, sample A, sample B, sample C etc. The sample needs to be received at our office by 5:00pm on Wednesday to be tested for that week.  Soil and water test results will be available after 9am the next day.  Please fill out only one form for the sample(s) you are dropping off for testing.  If a more extensive test is needed the University of Florida will perform a more analytical test for a minimal fee. 

IFAS Analytical Services Laboratories Extension Soil Testing Laboratory - Landscape and Vegetable Gardens

IFAS Analytical Services Laboratories Extension Soil Testing Laboratory - Water Test Information Sheet

Garden Tours: Butterfly, Herb, Palm and Plumeria.  Personally guided garden tours are given every Tuesday morning by Master Gardeners tending the Butterfly, Herb, Palm and Plumeria gardens. The Master Gardeners are here from 10am until noon working in the gardens. For large groups please contact the Horticulture Help Desk to schedule a tour.

Frequently asked questions:

Tropical Fruits Calendar

Vegetable Gardening:                            

Vegetable Gardening Guide                  
Organic Vegetable Gardening                                                                                                 
Tomatoes In the Florida Garden         
Seeding the Garden                                
Minigardening - Growing Vegetables In Containers

Vegetables To Plant in South Florida

Lawns:           St. Augustine grass           
                        Bahia                                     
                        Zoysiagrass                         
                        Establishing a Lawn           

Citrus:           Varieties for the Home Landscape
                       Citrus Problems                                                                
                       Citrus Canker
                       Citrus Fungal Diseases                           
                       Citrus Greening  

Palms:           Ornamental Palms for South Florida 
                       Lee County Extension Palm Garden
                       Care and Maintenance                           
              Common Palm Disorders and Diseases
              Common Palm Disorders and Diseases - 1

Watering restrictions

University of Florida IFAS Extension