Horticulture

Coshocton County's first Master Gardener Program was initiated in January 2001. There are currently 25 active Master Gardeners in Coshocton County. In 2008 they volunteered 1271.25 hours to beautifying and educating our community and spent 733.5 hours continuing to educate themselves!

Work continues on several projects: Our own Parking Lot Garden, the Weaver's Garden at Roscoe Village, various plantings at Lake Park including the Ohio Flag Garden and the Phenology Garden. We are collaborating with Clary Gardens and 2009 is the third year for the Display Garden- which has applied for an All-America Selections designation. A new project for 2009 is the Court Square/ Main Street project. Master Gardeners will be working with individuals needing court-ordered community service hours to educate them and beautify Coshocton's downtown.

We are already planning several educational programs for the public in 2009- keep checking back!

Lake Park- Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. or contact the Park office for Barb's schedule- 622.7528. Triangle bed weeding is scheduled for June 29 at 8:00 a.m., Canal Bed is every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.- Noon.
Flag Garden- Contact Barb. Click here for watering schedule.
Phenology Garden- Contact Marcia.
Weaver's Garden- Contact Judi
Parking Lot Garden- Weeding & watering- Thursday, July 2 at 5:00 p.m. Contact Teresa
Display Garden at Clary Botanical Gardens- Contact Tammi at 622.2265. Click here for Water/weeding schedule
Court Square/ Main Street in Coshocton- Tuesdays: 4-7 p.m., Fridays: 8 a.m.- Noon. Weekends as needed. Contact Tim.

Coshocton County Master Gardeners will be bringing "The Real Dirt" to listeners of Coshocton's local 99.3 WTNS Radio. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be approximately an hour in length. Programs will normally be held the 4th Friday of each month through the year and will provide pertinent information to local gardeners.

July 7, 21 and August 4, 2009 Summer Lunch & Learns, All from 12:15- 12:45 p.m. at Clary Gardens- Tan House.

July 8, Garden Walk at Lake Park, 6:00-8:00 p.m. The Friends of the Parks, in cooperation with the OSU Extension Master Gardeners, will be hosting a Garden Tour of selected Lake Park gardens. Come enjoy a walk around Lake Park while visiting the featured gardens, learn the history of each garden, and take the opportunity to ask questions of the Master Gardener who oversees that area. Some of the gardens include: The Flag Garden, The Phenology Garden, and the Hospice Remembrance Garden. While on your walk, you will also pass a number of Memorial Trees planted over the years and read a short history of the honored individuals. Refreshments will be available following the tour, courtesy of the Friends of the Parks. This tour is free of charge and open to everyone. Donations are welcome and will benefit the Friends of the Parks. Any questions can be directed to the Park District Office at 622-7528.

Aug. 1 & 19, Vegetable Gardening Series, at the OSU Extension office on the Fairgrounds, Old Washington (Guernsey County). $10 per session or $40 for all 6 sessions. For more info, contact Kaye Claye at 740.489.5300.

September 1, Fall Gardening Workshop, more info coming...

Soil Testing Back in Coshocton County!

A basic soil test is an excellent way to measure soil fertility. It is also an inexpensive way to help maintain good plant health and maximize productivity. The Coshocton County Extension Office is once again offering soil testing for the following:

Home gardens – including vegetable and flower

Turf and ornamentals

Production agricultural crops

The Extension office will mail all submitted soil samples to Spectrum Analytic, Inc., a comprehensive testing lab in Washington Court House. Basic soil test packages cost $15 each. More detailed tests are available for an additional charge.

A basic soil test package includes a summary of soil pH, buffer pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium, magnesium, cation exchange capacity, and percent base saturation of cation elements. All soil tests will also provide an outline of recommendations for reaching desired yields.

It is best to test soils after harvest in the fall or in the spring. When testing soil from year to year, it is best to collect samples at the same time (say every October or every April) to avoid extreme changes in soil-test information.

Instructions on how to take a good soil sample are available in the Extension office. A soil probe will also be available for use.

We have continued the Ohio Flag Garden at the Park. This year's flowers include red and white impatience and blue ageratum. Barb is the 2009 chair of this garden. (view pictures of the Flag Garden here) Warning: there are several images and it will take a while to download.

Phenology Garden at Lake Park:
Click here for pictures of Lake Park. In 2004 the Phenology Garden, a state-wide research project coordinated by Dan Herms, OSU Extension Entomologist, OARDC Wooster, and Denise Ellsworth, OSU Extension- Summit Co., Horticultural Educator, began in Coshocton County. The trees and shrubs planted in the OSU Phenology Garden network sites (34 sites, in all) will monitored for the first and full bloom, which will assist with identifying insect activity by the amount of "growing degree days". Knowing an insects life cycle can encourage more effective pest control and also saves in time, money and energy. Marcia and Jim have been monitoring and collecting data for this project. Click here for more OSU Phenology Garden information and site locations.

Weaver's Garden at Roscoe Village:
A new garden in 2003 for Roscoe, Judi is the 2009 chair of this project. Specializing in plants used to dye materials used for weaving in the 1860's.
Click here for images for the Weaver's Garden (Warning: there are several images and it will take a while to download.)

Parking Lot Garden:
Started in July 2003, the median in front of the County Services Building (where the OSU Extension Office is housed) had been neglected. Two locust trees had been cut down in 2002 and all that was left were about 24 misplaced and mangled Cotoneaster... That all changed on July 30, 2003. Click here for images (Warning: there are several images and it will take a while to download.) Teresa is the 2009 chair of this garden.

Display Garden at Clary Gardens:
New in 2007! Hopefully in two years this garden will be approved as an All-American Selections Display Garden. Over 40 varieties of annuals are growing and blooming. Click here for images of the Display Garden.

Court Square/ Main Street:
Our newest project- Tim France is the 2009 Chair. The committee plants & maintains Main Street beds and planters and keeps the Court Square beds spiffy while providing an opportunity for court-ordered community service individuals to put in their time and learn more more gardening. Click here for images of this project.

All About Us

Upcoming Program Information

Monthly Meetings & Special Events

Connections to Web Sites

County Home Page

Coshocton Co. MG Constitution & By-laws