– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Once you have a plan, its time to select your plants.

Once you have a basic outline of the environmental conditions of your landscape and defined goals of what services you want the landscape to provide, it is time to begin researching plants that will deliver results. In this week’s article, we will focus on native trees and shrubs.

Most people don’t think of trees as flowering plants, but they are actually some of the earliest spring-blooming plants in Ohio! Tree blooms are some of the earliest nectar and pollen sources for Ohio bees. Adding native flowering trees and shrubs to your landscape can be an excellent way to provide long-term benefits to the wildlife in your ecosystem.

Some tree species to consider that are native and provide wildlife benefits include Continue reading →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Before selecting plants consider the goals for your native plants.

Interest in utilizing native plants in residential landscapes is on the rise and OSU Extension encourages the practice of considering native plant choices for landscape plants when they fit the site conditions and goals of the grower. Native plants in Ohio settings would be plants that were documented to have been present across the state prior to European colonization. These plants are adapted to local conditions, pressures, and threats. As a result, they typically require fewer inputs to thrive than introduced species.

Native trees, shrubs, flowers, legumes, and grasses are all options for incorporation in landscapes. Over the next few weeks, this article will cover some of the considerations for each category of plants and suggested plants for use in Southeast Ohio. The first thing we will cover is understanding Continue reading →

Do you want to learn more about new plants to introduce in your gardens for pollinators in 2024?  How about finding some alternatives to those ugly boxwoods?  Or do you think it looks like those boxwoods are trying  making a comeback?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, then make plans now to attend the Fairfield County Master Gardeners “Dig Into Gardening” at Christ United Methodist Church, 700 S. Main Street in Baltimore, Ohio.

Our program will be featuring Planting for Pollinators with Scott Beuerlein of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Conifers for Today’s Gardens with (Garden Bob) Bob Iiames, American Conifer Society, and OSU Extension’s Carrie Brown discussing Boxwood Problems!!

We will have a Continue reading →

Master Gardener Training Informational Meeting – Are you thinking this is your year to become a Fairfield County Master Gardener Volunteer?  If you want to learn more about the program ..what’s involved, how do I get started?  Join us on  Friday, February 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center located at 831 College Avenue in Lancaster, Oh for an informational meeting about the Fairfield County Master Gardener program.  Cost for the 7 week daytime program is $150.00 which does include your training manual and handouts.     All interested in Master Gardener Volunteer training in Fairfield County are encouraged to attend. 

Please take a moment to RSVP for the Fairfield County Master Gardener Informational session here: https://go.osu.edu/ffmgv2024

Questions?  Contact Connie Smith, Master Gardener Coordinator smith.3204@osu.edu or Carrie Brown, Extension Educator  brown.2766@osu.edu.