For this column, we have the opportunity to hear from Julie Janoski, the Plant Clinic Manager for The Morton Arboretum. As the Plant Clinic manager Julie is in charge of helping to field questions brought to the Arboretum by homeowners, gardeners and professionals.
Julie, thanks so much for being available to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a bit more about your position at The Morton Arboretum?
I am one of two full-time horticulturalists in the Plant Clinic. My role at the Plant Clinic is to gather scientific data from the Arboretum and other knowledgeable institutions such as public gardens and universities and then provide horticultural information and advice to our visitors, staff and volunteers. The Plant Clinic also provides support to 68 trained volunteers who work with us to answer the questions about trees and plants suitable for home landscapes and concerns about pests and diseases as well as a variety of other topics.
When did the Arboretum start providing this service?
The Arboretum informally started answering horticulture questions in 1929 when Lowell Kammerer, Curator of Collections, joined the staff. The Plant Clinic was officially established in 1968.
What is your background in the green industry and how does this help you now?
After finishing my horticulture degree at College of DuPage, I worked in the design department of a local independent nursery for several years before starting my own landscape design firm. I’m also a former volunteer of the Plant Clinic, where I spent six years answering questions, providing advice and sharing insights about trees and plants. Each of these opportunities has allowed me to expand my horticulture knowledge, although I would say I am still learning every day!
Can you tell us a little more about The Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum?
The Plant Clinic is a free service that provides research-based information for gardening practices. We answer around 15,000 horticulture questions annually from homeowners, volunteers and staff via phone, email or walk in. We can respond to questions about plant selection and identification, diagnose pest and disease problems and make recommendations about horticultural care. We also maintain resources on The Morton Arboretum’s website (www.mortonarb.org) with advice on these topics, along with pages on more than 650 specific plants. During the growing season, March through August, we publish a bi-weekly insect and disease scouting resource called the Plant Health Care Report.
What was the most commonly asked questions last year?
The three most commonly asked questions last year were plant identification, the proper methods for pruning, and tips for tree and shrub selection.
Is there a particularly unusual question or problem that you remember being asked about?
Wow, we could write a book on that. We’ve been asked to identify plants from foreign countries, how to set up agricultural science projects, why some fallen logs are glowing in the woods —the cause of which is a fungus called foxfire —and the name of a giant spider someone saw in their dog’s dish. It’s amazing to see the curiosity and desire for reliable knowledge in those who reach out to the Plant Clinic.
If one of our readers wants to contact the Arboretum, what would be the best way?
You can contact the Plant Clinic in multiple ways:
— Walking in: The Plant Clinic is located directly across from the Visitor Center at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle.
— By phone: 630-719-2424
— By email: plantclinic@mortonarb.org
— Via website: www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/plant-clinic
What information do you request that homeowners have ready when they contact your clinic with a question?
It really depends on the question. For help diagnosing a potential pest or disease, it is always helpful to have accurate basic information about the plant in question, such as its location, the plant species (if possible), and specifics about the symptoms seen in the failing plant. If someone walks in or emails us to help identify a given plant, it is helpful to have a photograph of the whole plant or a larger section of it, including a branch and leaves. Our staff and volunteers are trained to ask the right questions to help resolve any inquiry.
Do you have any tips for homeowners that are trying to figure out a problem that they are having in their yard?
There can be many reasons a symptom is showing up. The best tip I can offer for diagnosing plant problems is to observe what is going on with the entire plant and the area around it. If the leaves are dropping, what color are they? Are there any odd-looking wounds, holes or insects on the branches or trunk? Have there been any changes in the environment around the plant? Observations like these are key in helping to identify the problem.
What resources do you have available for area gardeners through The Plant Clinic?
Plant Clinic resources include trained staff and volunteers who are available to answer questions at no cost. The Plant Clinic also provides expert information at mortonarb.org. Those interested in learning more about trees and plants are also encouraged to visit the Arboretum’s Sterling Morton Library, which carries thousands of titles on horticulture, botany, and landscape design, among other related subjects. The Arboretum offers an extensive selection of in-person and online classes, exhibits, shows, and scientific talks and publications, and continually conducts research on trees and plants, including how to better care for them in urban and suburban environments.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com.. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
