Plant problems are often linked to a disease-causing organism or less-than-ideal growing conditions. This free, hands-on workshop will offer a systematic approach to uncovering the cause of a plant’s problems, as well as examples of common plant problems in Virginia.

Participants are encouraged to bring samples from their own gardens for the class to examine and diagnose. The plant sample must include both living and dead material and must be stored in a sealable plastic bag to avoid spreading potential pathogens. PLEASE DO NOT BRING A SAMPLE OF BOXWOOD. This will avoid the possibility of spreading the highly contagious boxwood blight. Participants are also encouraged to bring photos of their plant before the sample is taken to show how widely the disease is distributed in the plant and other plants in the garden. Include the stem and soil surface in the photos.

It will be helpful to have a hand lens or magnifying glass for examining plant material in the class, as well as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop for looking up information on the Internet.

Due to the hands-on nature of this class, space is limited. Registration closes at 5 p.m. July 14 or when the class is full. Garden Basics is a partnership with the Bread and Roses ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church.