Questions? Ask the Gardener’s Help Line

Do you have a burning question about pruning or plant identification? Are you wondering about watering? During Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s closure, library staff is still available to answer your horticulture questions through the Gardener’s Help Line.

Typical questions involve home gardening concerns like seasonal tasks, pests, and diseases, says Kathy Crosby, BBG’s head librarian. “People don't usually call or write us to tell us how wonderful their plants or gardens are doing, usually the opposite,” she says, though occasionally people do just want to share something beautiful. The staff has also assisted people researching different aspects of gardening history.

During the closure, the Help Line will be active via email at [email protected]. When writing, please keep your question as straightforward as possible and include your phone number in your email query for a more timely response.

Other advice:

• Identify your question category: pests and diseases, culture and propagation, plant identification, etc.
• Identify the class of plant: tree, shrub, perennial, annual, etc.
• Describe the problem. If you're concerned about an insect, for example, note the appearance of the pest and where you have seen it (on leaves, stems, in the soil), as well as the damage it is doing.