Cooperative extension offices

Michigan State University Extension gardening

East Lansing, Michigan, serving Michigan. Listed as a reference, not an endorsement.

Overview

MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture provides Michigan gardening education, Smart Gardening resources, soil testing, and question support. This listing is provided for reference, not as an endorsement, certification, ranking, or guarantee of current availability.

Services and programs

  • Smart Gardening
  • Ask Extension
  • Soil testing information

What to verify before you go

Contact the organization or review its official source before making a trip, placing an order, joining a garden, or applying for funding. Details that commonly change include:

  • Current hotline details
  • Soil testing process
  • Local program availability

Related directory resources

Browse all extension offices or return to the directory hub.

Sources and last verified

Source: Michigan State University Extension. Last checked 2026-10-04.

MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture provides Michigan gardening education and Smart Gardening resources.

What this listing covers

The source includes home gardening materials, Ask Extension support, soil testing information, Master Gardener education, and sustainable gardening guidance.

Before contacting the program

Check the current hotline details, question process, and soil testing instructions. Local program availability may change.

More tools

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Calculate

Compost calculator

Size a topdressing layer or a soil amendment blend.

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Garden unit converter

Convert cubic yards, bags, and pounds for garden materials.

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Calculate

Plant spacing calculator

Find how many plants fit in your garden.

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Calculate

Watering calculator

Convert weekly water depth into gallons and runtime.

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Garden guides

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Greenhouse growing

Greenhouse temperature guide for seeds and seedlings

Use crop-specific greenhouse temperatures for seed germination, seedlings, frost protection, and ventilation, with practical day and night ranges.

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Diagram of a raised bed cross section showing timber walls, a layer of existing soil or coarse fill, and the measured depth of new soil being added.

Materials

How much soil does a raised bed need?

How to measure a raised bed and turn the volume into bags or bulk cubic yards, with a worked example for a common 8 by 4 bed.

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October calendar diagram showing planting windows for garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops closing as the first fall frost approaches.

Seasonal

What can I plant right now in my garden?

In early October, most US gardeners can still plant garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops. Here is what is still open and what has closed.

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Diagram of a tulip bulb in a soil cross section planted at about three times its own height, pointed end up, with a depth marker of 6 to 8 inches.

Fall planting

When should I plant tulip bulbs?

Plant tulip bulbs in fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. Here is how the window shifts by region and how deep to plant.

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Plant library

Browse all plants
Illustration of a lemon balm stem with paired leaves

Herb

Lemon balm

A lemon-scented mint-family perennial for tea and pollinators, nearly indestructible once planted.

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Illustration of a marjoram stem with small rounded leaves

Herb

Marjoram

A tender perennial grown as an annual, sweeter and milder than its close cousin oregano.

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Illustration of a lovage plant with large divided leaves

Herb

Lovage

A towering hardy perennial with a concentrated celery flavor in its leaves, stems, and seeds.

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Illustration of chamomile stems with small white daisy flowers

Herb

Chamomile

A cool-season annual whose small daisy flowers dry into the classic tea herb.

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Glossary terms

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soil

Nutrient deficiency

A nutrient deficiency occurs when a plant cannot obtain enough of an element for normal growth. Symptoms depend on the nutrient, crop, roots, and soil conditions.

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plant labels

Open-pollinated

Open-pollinated describes a variety that produces seed through natural pollination and can reproduce its traits when properly isolated and selected.

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soil

Organic matter

Organic matter is material derived from living organisms at different stages of decomposition. It influences soil structure, water, nutrients, and biological activity.

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plant labels

Organic

Organic can describe a certified production system that follows defined rules, or materials derived from living organisms. The context matters.

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Gardening directories

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Cooperative extension offices

Penn State Extension Garden Hotline

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners provide county-based garden hotline support for soil, plants, pests, and home gardening questions.

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Cooperative extension offices

Ohio State University Extension Ask Extension

OSU Extension Ask Extension accepts gardening questions and connects Ohio residents with research-based answers from faculty, staff, and Master Gardener volunteers.

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Nurseries and garden centers

North Creek Nurseries

North Creek Nurseries is a wholesale propagation nursery specializing in perennials, ornamental grasses, ferns, and Eastern United States native plants.

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Nurseries and garden centers

Plant Delights Nursery

Plant Delights Nursery offers perennial plants, including rare and native selections, through its online catalog and scheduled open nursery weekends.

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