Extension Web site caters to Zones 4-6

The University of Illinois Extension has launched Hortanswers, a Web site for commercial growers and home gardeners. It’s a portal for plant pest, disease and performance information.

The site covers plants in USDA Hardiness Zones 4, 5 and 6.

Hortanswers (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/hortanswers) provides search parameters including common and scientific plant names, and pest and disease names. Photos are an important feature of the site.

“Because of its complexity, it took several years to develop,” said Greg Stack, extension horticulture educator. “The result is an extremely valuable site.”

The site was originally conceived by former University of Illinois Extension specialist Bruce Pallsrud. It was developed by Jane Scherer, University of Illinois Extension urban program/web coordination specialist, along with Stack and fellow extension horticulture educators James Schuster, Maurice Ogutu and Sharon Yiesla.

The site provides a single resource for reliable, unbiased information, Stack said.

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For more: Greg Stack, University of Illinois Extension, (630) 685-2355; www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/hortanswers.

March 2008