Yellowhammer Times

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Spring fever is running rampant in much of Alabama as homeowners and gardeners plead with Mother Nature for the warmer weather to come and stay. Home and garden centers are buzzing with excited gardeners who are ready to get digging. What happens when the shrubs shrivel? Who should you call when the frost bites? Where is the best place to plant that hydrangea? If you’re struggling to find the answers, give the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Master Gardeners a call. Available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Master Gardener (MG) Helpline is a one-stop-shop for gardening questions and troubleshooting.

Call 1-877-ALA-GROW

The toll-free helpline connects callers with a knowledgeable team of MG volunteers who can help answer all of the most pressing gardening questions. Armed with research and Alabama Extension publications, these volunteers can also contact specialists to find the answers gardeners need to help the garden grow.

Mallory Kelley, a home grounds regional agent who oversees central Alabama’s helpline, said the program is a great example of Extension’s outreach mission. Volunteers from MG groups around the state work the phones answering questions. These questions run the gamut from vegetable gardens to bulbs and trees.

“The helpline has been in existence since 2006, as a statewide effort,” Kelley said. “We’ve always had helpline callers, but the pandemic really ratcheted up the effort. Before, volunteers worked the helpline in March through August but now there is a need for MG expertise year-round.”

Alabama Extension offices regularly receive home grounds questions and calls. Master Gardeners collaborate with agents and specialists to answer inquiries accurately and in a timely manner.

New Ways to Contact Master Gardeners

Kelley said the newest way to contact the MG volunteers is to submit a form through the Alabama Master Gardeners web page. Submit a help request form with detailed information about the issues in the yard or garden and receive a prompt reply from MG volunteers manning the line.

Alabama Master Gardener Program

The Alabama Extension MG program was developed to increase the availability of home horticultural information through qualified volunteers, and to improve communities through community volunteer projects.

“The Master Gardener program is an example of partnership between the land-grant universities, Auburn University and Alabama A&M University, and motivated volunteers interested in educating their communities,” Kelley said.

MG volunteer programs have been implemented all over the United States and in four Canadian provinces. To become a certified MG, interns complete a minimum of 50 hours of Extension training and 50 hours of volunteer service.

Every volunteer contributes to the success of the program. They offer the community reliable gardening information and educational opportunities. Volunteers help in the county office or they may provide an educational program for a civic group.

The Alabama Extension MG Program is based on the idea of shared ownership. Both Extension staff and volunteers share ideas, visions, dreams and responsibilities for the program. To that end, volunteers have opportunities to work with Extension programs; federal, state and county agencies; and local schools and organizations. Many communities benefit from MG beautification projects and volunteers. MG volunteers also devote lots of time and effort to local schools and students.

All Master Gardeners represent Extension as educational resources for their communities. Their overall mission is to improve the quality of life where they volunteer.

Master Gardener Helpline

Got home garden questions? Call the Master Gardener Helpline at 1-877-252-4769. There is a Master Gardener waiting to answer your call. Learn more about the Alabama Extension Master Gardener program by visiting www.aces.edu or contacting the home grounds agent in your area.

Original source can be found here.