Kentucky agriculture and natural resources and horticulture county Extension agents reported 74% of time was spent assisting homeowners. A majority of questions are related to the area of ornamental plants, which includes thousands of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Due to the large number of plants including in this area, agents frequently spend several hours trying to diagnose issues and provide management recommendations. As a way to educate agents on common disease and insect issues and reduce time spent seeking out information to assist homeowners, the six-part Guide to Common Diseases and Insects of Ornamental Plants webinar series was developed. An Entomology Extension Specialist and Plant Pathology Extension Associate conducted the one hour sessions that provided information on recognizing and managing common diseases and insects on some of the most frequently problematic plants. All sessions were recorded and can continue to be used as a resource by agents.
 

Between 13 and 45 agents participated in each session. A survey at the conclusion of the series found that between 60 and 80 percent of agent respondents indicated a moderate or extreme increase in knowledge after each session. Ninety percent of agents found the webinar series valuable. The video recordings continue to be used by agents with some videos being viewed as many as 23 times. Agents verbally expressed that additional trainings of this type would be beneficial and the development of these additional training opportunities will be explored.