A plant sample headed to Ohio State does not always belong at the Wooster clinic. General plant samples, turfgrass and nematode submissions have different destinations. Check the specimen category before preparing the shipping label. Clinic submission instructions
Choose the destination, not just the university name
| Submission | Published destination | Before delivery |
|---|---|---|
| General plant sample | OSU Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic, 234 Selby Hall, c/o Dr. Francesca Rotondo, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691 | Use the appropriate request form; coordinate hand delivery at 330-263-3721 |
| Turfgrass | Columbus Campus Turfgrass Clinic, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research and Educational Facility, 2710 North Star, Columbus, OH 43221 | Follow the separate turf instructions linked by the clinic |
| Nematode sample | OSU Soybean Pathology and Nematology Lab, Attn. Horacio Lopez-Nicora, 110 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210 | Follow that laboratory’s separate submission instructions |
Addresses are transcribed from the clinic’s general submission page, checked September 20, 2026. Confirm the current destination before shipping, especially when the specimen category is uncertain. Address source
Protect the plant material and its history
For landscape plant submissions, the clinic asks for still-living symptomatic material, preferably representing different stages. Keep a whole plant’s roots and soil enclosed separately from its top; do not cut off the root ball. Leaf or stem samples go in plastic zipper bags rather than paper. Include the requested history: plant identity, symptoms, number affected, surrounding conditions and pesticide use. Read the applicable category instructions before collection. Landscape packing guidance
LSL’s package check pairs the physical specimen with the information needed to interpret it:
| Check | What to match |
|---|---|
| Label | The selected destination and specimen category |
| Material | The category’s collection and packing instructions |
| Form | The plant and symptoms actually represented in the package |
| History | When the problem appeared, what changed and treatments already attempted |
This is a preparation aid, not a diagnostic method or replacement for the clinic’s form.
Digital questions have a separate starting point
The main submission page now links an online form for digital diagnosis and lists ppdc@osu.edu for questions, forms and images. The landscape page still describes emailing a completed form with images. Follow the current main page’s digital link, or ask the clinic which route fits your question before sending a physical sample. LSL did not submit either form or test an email response. Main digital route · Landscape instructions
If the question is about soil nutrient levels rather than identifying a plant problem, the Wayne soil-map and laboratory guide separates those records. A correctly addressed plant sample does not establish that a particular test, fee or turnaround applies. This review compared public instructions; it did not diagnose a plant, inspect a site or commission laboratory work.