SDSU Extension expands Garden Hotline availability to year-round

South Dakota State University Extension has added a new year-round Garden Hotline for South Dakota residents with garden, lawn or yard questions.

The new hotline will be monitored by Sydney Trio, the recently appointed SDSU Extension Horticulture Assistant based at McCrory Gardens in Brookings. To contact Trio at the SDSU Extension Garden Hotline, call 605-690-9447 or email sdsu.gardenseast@sdstate.edu.

Trio will also monitor the other hotlines to provide statewide support. Other Garden Hotlines are based in Aberdeen, Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls and have traditionally been monitored seasonally. They will continue to have dedicated operators during the growing season.

“This new position gives us year-round capacity to meet the needs of clients and the flexibility to ramp things up during the growing season,” said Sandy Smart, professor and SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader. “Sydney’s position also leverages the beautiful backdrop at McCrory Gardens to host more educational events in eastern South Dakota.”

Gardeners can also submit garden and yard questions at extension.sdstate.edu/garden-yard/problems-and-solutions and an SDSU Extension expert or Master Gardener will reply, typically within 48 hours if the inquiry is made on a weekday.

Contact the hotline nearest you with questions. Updated contact information and full-time months of operation for all the Garden Hotlines are:

• Aberdeen (April – October): sdsu.gardensnorth@sdstate.edu or 605-626-2876
• Brookings (year-round): sdsu.gardenseast@sdstate.edu or 605-690-9447
• Pierre (April – October): sdsu.gardenscentral@sdstate.edu or 605-773-8129
• Rapid City (April – October): sdsu.gardenswest@sdstate.edu or 605-394-6814
• Sioux Falls (April – October): sdsu.gardenssouth@sdstate.edu or 605-782-3298.