Before you seek a plant diagnosis: what to record and photograph
Build a concise plant-health history and photo set for a local extension office or diagnostic service.
Read guideWhen a native plant declines, fails to flower, or appears damaged, start with what changed and where. A symptom such as wilting, browning, or poor bloom can have several causes. These guides help you compare observations and choose a useful next step; they do not diagnose a plant remotely.
Start with the evidence you can observe
Identify the plant if possible, note when the change began, and compare affected plants with nearby healthy ones. Record recent weather, watering, light, soil moisture, planting or pruning, and any visible damage. A whole-plant view and a close-up can reveal different clues. If you need help, record the problem before contacting a plant clinic.
Choose the guide that matches the problem
- Native plants declining in wet clay soil in Michigan — Check water movement, compaction, planting history, and other causes before changing the site.
- Why native plants bloom poorly in dry shade in Virginia — Compare the plant’s expected bloom, light, moisture, age, and pruning history.
- Standing water in an Ontario rain garden: observe, adjust, or redesign — Compare ponding with the garden’s installed design and inspect visible flow paths.
- Streambank erosion in Pennsylvania: when planting may not be enough — Record bank changes and know when to seek local stream-restoration guidance.
- Deer browsing on a Pennsylvania native groundcover — Look for more than one sign of browsing and check whether site stress may also be involved.
- Is it deer, rabbit, or vole damage? — Compare common signs on damaged stems and foliage.
- Why does my native plant look damaged after winter? — Check seasonal timing, weather, and the plant tissue affected.
- How to report a suspected plant pest in Canada or the United States — Find the official reporting route and check what to do before collecting or moving suspected material.
Know when to ask for local help
Use a local extension service or plant clinic when decline continues, symptoms spread, or identifying the cause would change what you do. Soil-testing services can help answer soil questions, but a soil test does not identify every plant problem. Follow the instructions of the service that will receive any sample.
Do not infer a pesticide treatment, drainage change, or plant replacement from one symptom. Changes near foundations, utilities, roads, or an engineered stormwater feature need site-specific review.