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

There are alternatives to salt for melting ice.

With winter comes ice, with ice comes salt, with salt comes salty soils and stressed plants in the spring. Did you know that there are many product options available for melting ice besides salt? Today we’ll look at the benefits and disadvantages of those options.

Salt is a great tool for treating slippery roads and sidewalks. It consistently works when applied appropriately. However, high levels of salt can leach into soils and inhibit plant growth when spring comes again. Plants damaged by salt accumulation will appear dehydrated. Salt in the soil draws water out of the plant cells and leads to quicker and more intense dehydration. Plants will often display chlorosis (leaf-yellowing), stunted growth, damage to uniform plant species that progressively change from bad to good as you move away from high traffic areas. Homeowners often associate the damage with Continue reading Icey Sidewalks and Salty Solutions →

Decorating the house with fresh greenery is one of the oldest winter holiday traditions.

In this edition:

• Decorating safely with fresh greens indoors
• Connie’s Corner A message from our MG Coordinator
• Perennial plant of the year
• Fairfield County MGs recognized
• Learning Never Ends gardeners win blue ribbons at fair
• Winter virtual book clubs
• One MG’s Christmas traditions
• Gardener’s gift idea
• Holiday recipes
• Waxed amaryllis bulbs
• Holiday leftover safety
• Autumn mysteries revealed
• Importance of watering the landscape
• Winter mulching
• Fall cleaning of gardening tools
• Putting the garden to bed for winter
• How the tomato became a vegetable
• Agriculture technology featuring Trevor Bowie
• A review of the MGV State conference
• See what’s happening in and around the garden

Find the entire newsletter linked here in a PDF printable format.

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

A fresh tree can draw up 2 qts or more water on the first day in the tree stand.

Bringing the outdoors in as decoration is a popular tradition this time of year. We just finished our annual Holiday Wreath Making Workshop where we did just that and what a fun time we always have. Our local tree farms will be opening after Thanksgiving! Can you believe it is that time already? I encourage you to shop early this year and be prepared to take good care of your live tree so it lasts in beautiful condition until New Year’s Day. The drought of 2024 may impact the availability of trees and their longevity if not pampered in your home.

For some, décor that looks like real plant material is a must and for others, real is the only way to go. I respect both options but given the choice, I will go for real evergreen material for our tree, wreaths, swags, and garlands. If you like to keep it real for the holidays like I do, keep Continue reading Keeping it Real for the Holidays →

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

Leaf litter can be composted.

While there are many tasks on a gardeners list in the fall, the “clean up” that is best for our ecosystem may not look all that “clean”. Leaving residue on the soil is beneficial in many ways, especially deciduous tree leaf litter. Leaf litter may seem like a nuisance, but the litter is a valuable resource that I hope you will consider recycling.

Leaves contain valuable nutrients for soil health. Healthy soils provide plants and animals with healthy habitats. Keep the nutrients held within fallen leaves in use by reincorporating them into your landscape in the form of compost or mulch.

It is important to take Continue reading Leave the Leaves →

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

Don’t be surprised when you find these in the house!

It’s stink bug season again!

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is back in 2024 causing frustration for homeowners and farmers across America. These shielded, flying, stout, and brown insects are thought to have invaded the US from Asia in the mid-90s. Since the first one was positively identified in 2001 by Penn State they have spread across the country and now pose threats worth $21 billion to specialty food crops annually. They cause damage to many food crops including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

There are many different kinds of less common stink bugs in our region that including beneficial, predatory stink bugs. Stink bugs do not Continue reading Return of the Stinkbug! →

Ag Center Zinnias in full bloom!

In this issue:

• Connie’s Corner: Current drought issues
• Fall MGV photos
• Cover crop seeds available
• Registration open for State Conference
• Beneficial Insects 101 offered
• Helping Hands in the Garden project
• Lunch & Learn series beginning
• Seasonal Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Time to order garlic
• Developing a priority watering plan
• Fire safety concerns during drought
• Cover crops
• The invasive Amur Corktree
• Chaos gardening
• Featured Book: Fabulous Fall Gardens by Jane Milbocker
• In/Around the Garden

Find the entire newsletter linked here in a PDF printable format.

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

Humans are infected through the bites of immature black legged ticks calls nymphs.

It is becoming common knowledge that Lyme disease cases are on the rise in Ohio and that Lyme disease is transferred to people through the black-legged tick (A.K.A.- deer tick). It makes sense, given that the preferred habitat of this tick is the habitat occurring throughout Southeast Ohio- forested areas with leaf-litter coverage, grassy forest edges, and other areas with low-lying vegetation where wildlife are common. At this point, the black-legged tick is distributed through nearly every county in the state and poses a significant health risk to Ohioans.

Over the past week, another member of my immediate family has begun treatment for Lyme disease. The issue is prevalent and could present for any of us at any time. Even with the best prevention techniques and Continue reading Reminders to be Vigilant for Lyme Disease →

Can you tell a termite from a winged ant?

Packed into this issue:

• Distinguishing termites and ants
• Connie’s Corner
• Thanks to Lancaster Greenhouse
• Learning Never Ends’ needs
• Thank you Pam and Neil Jarvis and Louise Smith
• Field guide available
• Helping Hands in the Garden—projects
• Wagnalls gets ZooBrew
• MGV Project Leaders
• 2024 MG training highlights
• Song bird and pollinator gardens of Ag Center
• Corn reproduction
• Controlling slugs
• Available MG materials
• Best time to water
• Garden tasks for June
• Importance of sun protection
• Garden designs for disability and aging
• Featured Book: The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
• Local foods programs and food preservation
• In/Around the Garden
• Featured events and event calendar

Find the entire newsletter linked here in a PDF printable format.

Spring!

In this issue:

• Brown stink bugs in the home
• Connie’s Corner; A Message from our MG Coordinator
• All American selections
• Growing degree days
• Edimentals in the garden
• Vernal pools
• Cold weather and the Japanese beetle
• Yerba maté (part 3)
• Seeing the first greenhouse open sign in spring
• Featured Books
• In/Around the Garden; Featured events and event calendar

Find the entire newsletter linked here in PDF.

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

Don’t forget native grasses and flowers.

This week we continue the quest for native plants to enhance Ohio landscapes and will focus on how to incorporate native grasses and flowers that are appealing to both people and animals. Whether you manage acres of meadows or a few square feet in a garden bed, the addition of native grasses and flowers will be beneficial to your environment. Along with adding interest to the appearance of the landscape, natives increase the functionality of the landscape by providing benefits to the environment.

Native grasses and flowers are already adapted to our climate, soils, insects, and often thrive with less water and fertilizer than other introduced species. Areas that are often seen as “challenging” such as chronically wet, chronically dry, or sloped areas are often sites where native grasses and flowers can be established and need little follow-up care. Many native plants can be left to stand in the landscape through the winter for interest and as overwintering sites for native insects. Occasional removal of Continue reading Native Grasses and Flowers for Ohio Landscapes →