Issue 1, April 20, 2020

University of Illinois Plant Clinic Operations During COVID-19

Normally, this would be the time to welcome spring and remind people of how to submit a sample to the Plant Clinic. However, this year the Plant Clinic is adjusting operations in accordance with state and university guidelines. The impact of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) continues to create uncertainty and concern both globally and here in our community. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the University of Illinois has implemented social-distancing protocols that impact all university activities. Illinois Extension, as the outreach program of the university, aligns with all policies related to public health and safety.
The Plant Clinic is currently accepting the following types of samples:

  • Phytosanitary samples submitted for diagnostic testing necessary for the movement and/or sale of plant material.
  • Commercial samples submitted by agronomic and horticultural industry personnel. This includes field and specialty crop producers, nursery staff, arborists, landscapers, and other green professionals. These are samples submitted as part of a business.
  • Insect identification if the pest is a suspect human pest (bed bug, tick, etc.). Please contact the Plant Clinic (see below) for additional information before submitting this type of sample.
  • Samples suspected to be infected or infested with a regulated plant pest. These include European gypsy moth, spotted lanternfly, sudden oak death, and boxwood blight.
  • Food produce plant samples (fruit and vegetable production). To support safe, accessible food production, we are continuing to accept production plant samples regardless of the source.

We are encouraging homeowners and private individuals to email pictures and descriptions of ornamental plant problems to plantclinic@illinois.edu for additional assistance.

The Plant Clinic is running on a reduced staff in accordance with social distancing guidelines. As a result, fewer staff are in the lab, and we have a reduced ability to return phone calls. We ask that clients please send emails to plantclinic@illinois.edu, which can be replied to by staff members even when we are not present in the lab. However, if you do not have access to email, you may call and leave a voicemail with your question and contact information, and a staff member will call them back when we are able.

Submitting samples
Samples can be submitted by mail or dropped off at the Plant Clinic with slight changes in procedure:
Mail Samples:

  • USPS: We recommend using USPS to ship samples. Please email the Plant Clinic with the tracking number, if there is one. USPS mail is currently arriving only once per week.
  • FedEx: If you use FedEx, please email us the tracking number. Currently, FedEx is not delivering to the building so Plant Clinic staff have to go pick up packages (which they won’t know to expect without a tracking number).
  • UPS: We do not recommend using UPS at this time since we have not been able to set up a way to pick up samples shipped through UPS.

Drop-off Samples:

  • Samples can be left in a large, green, drop-off box located at the south doors of Turner Hall (opposite the greenhouse). A map of the drop-off location is pictured below. Sample submission forms and pens are available in the box. The box is checked daily.

We expect these changes to persist at least through the end of the governor’s stay-at-home order. Additional University guidelines may also impact our ability to fully open. However, we are committed to helping as many people with their plant problems as we can during this growing season. We’ll keep you updated through this newsletter, and you can also contact us through email.

University of Illinois Plant Clinic Contact Information
Website: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/plantclinic/
Email: plantclinic@illinois.edu
Mailing Address:
University of Illinois Plant Clinic
S-417 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217-333-0519

Author:
Diane Plewa

Return to table of contents