The Center for Home Gardening is currently closed to ensure visitor and staff well-being. Our Plant Doctors are still available through phone and e-mail to answer your gardening questions. Please note that response times may be delayed due to limited staffing.

Horticulture Answer Service
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Phone #: 314-577-5143

Plant Information
E-mail: plantinformation@mobot.org

Due to the Center for Home Gardening being closed, we are not able to conduct free soil pH tests at this time. As an alternative, soil samples can be submitted to the University of Missouri Extension's Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory. 

Plastic Pot Recycling in the St. Louis region continues to remain suspended for 2022. Garden centers that have pot recycling collection trailers will NOT be accepting garden plastics. Please see the Plastic Pot Recycling: Update and Perspective blog entry for more information about the program's suspension. Additional questions about pot recycling can be submitted to the Green Resources Info Service at greenresources@mobot.org. 

• Watch for bagworms feeding on many garden plants, but especially juniper and arborvitae. 
   
• Plant tropical water lilies when water temperatures rise above 70 degrees F. 
   
• Apply a balanced rose fertilizer after the first show of blooms is past. 
   
• Continue spraying roses with a fungicide to prevent black spot disease. 
   
• Softwood cuttings can be taken from trees and shrubs as the spring flush of growth is beginning to mature. 
   
• Trees and shrubs may still be fertilized before July 4th. 
   
• Pruning of spring flowering trees and shrubs should be completed before the month's end. 
   
• Mow lawns frequently enough to remove no more than 1/3 the total height per mowing. There is no need to remove clippings unless excessive. 
   
• Zoysia can be fertilized now while actively growing. Do not exceed 2-3 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer pre 1000 sq. ft. per year. 
   
• Plant pumpkins now to have Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. 
   
• As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to 'run', begin spray treatments to control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers. 
   
• To minimize diseases, water with overhead irrigation early enough in the day to allow the foliage to dry before nightfall. 

Plants of Merit are plants selected for their outstanding quality and dependable performance in the Midwest in the categories of annuals, bulbs, edibles, houseplants, perennials, shrubs, trees and vines. Click the link below to view the new Plants of Merit selections for 2022.

Plants of Merit 2022