KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Hotline and Walk-in services will reopen for business on July 12. The Master Gardeners will be in the office located at 232 Plaza Road in Kingston on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00am -12:00pm to answer questions live and do pH soil testing. 

Phone calls to the hotline (845) 340-DIST (3478) can be left at any time but will be returned during those regular hours.  

The Master Gardeners will do pH soil testing, folks can bring in ½ cup of dry soil. It is $3.00 for the first sample and $1.00 for each additional sample. More intensive soil testing will be available through the purchase of a Rutgers soil test bag at the office. Soil testing is one of the most important things you can do to help increase the productivity of your land.  It also helps you save money and protect your environment by not over-applying fertilizers to your crops. We can help you test your soils and understand the results. The master gardeners also can diagnose gardening problems, be it pest or diseases, ID plants and insects and make Cornell researched non-biased recommendations. Diagnoses and identifications cost $5.00 each. 

Gardening questions are answered free of charge! 

The Master Gardeners are a dedicated group of volunteers in New York State who are trained by Cornell Cooperative Extension in the science and art of gardening. Every Master Gardener has received 120 hours of research-based instruction from Cornell Cooperative Extension. We continue to be educated on the latest developments in horticulture through on-going training and workshops. 

Come say hello and take advantage of this local resource! Masks and social distancing will be required at this time. 

–Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County

For more articles out of New York, click here.