A mobile plant clinic featuring volunteer Master Gardeners is coming to Manatee County on the first Thursday of each month.

The clinic, starting March 4, will run from 9 a.m. to noon at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 912 63^rd Ave. W., in Bradenton. Volunteer home gardening experts will be available to share their knowledge on horticulture and answer a wide range of questions.

And, according to Manatee County Extension Service program assistant Katherine Oliver, "We have added another mobile plant clinic on the first and third Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton" at 4030 Manatee Ave W.

The Florida Master Gardener Program is an outreach effort from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The UF/IFAS program assists Extension offices that are located throughout the state.

The Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service regularly runs a Plant Diagnostic Clinic in Palmetto at 1303 17^th St. W. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Plant Diagnostic Clinic provides soil testing for pH and soluble salts for a small fee. Educational classes in residential horticulture are offered throughout the year.

The Extension Service also staffs a table at the weekly Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market on the first Sunday monthly. 

"The goal is to bring our services to many areas of the Bradenton community," Oliver said in an email.

UF/IFAS Master Gardeners served more than 500,000 statewide residents last year. UF/IFAS also provides advice and assistance for maintaining lawns.

For more information, and to join the mailing list for a monthly e-newsletter, contact the Manatee County Extension Service at 941-722-4524.

Also visit the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Program website for more about its services.

» Photos: Master Gardener volunteer John Dawson (top) teaches a workshop on building a salad table; MGVs Gretchen Lindelof and Mary Lange enjoy their work in the Bromeliad maze at the Barbara Davis Educational Gardens.

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