| There can be so many technical questions to ask | | | | sample tested. From the information received, |
| about your yard and garden, your plants and | | | | they can further advise on the types of soil |
| trees, and your soil and water, but you don't | | | | nutrients needed and the best type of application |
| know who to go to for the answers or your | | | | to use. |
| budget can't afford a private horticulturist or | | | | Plants and trees can be susceptible to insects and |
| technician. Fortunately, you can find answers | | | | diseases which can be difficult to diagnose. The |
| available through the Cooperative Extension | | | | result of infection or infestation is a plant that |
| Service. The Cooperative Extension system is | | | | does not produce, does not look healthy or dies. |
| associated with every state land-grant university | | | | An Extension Agent is trained to analyze the |
| and is a network of local or regional offices which | | | | insect or disease and give instruction for the best |
| are staffed by one or more experts-Extension | | | | type of treatment. The Cooperative Extension |
| Agents-who can provide answers to lawn and | | | | Service's is especially helpful when insects or |
| garden technical questions. Their expertise can | | | | diseases are new to an area because of their |
| provide practical, useful and research-based | | | | continuing study and research in this area. |
| information. | | | | For gardening enthusiasts, many Cooperative |
| Cooperative Extension Agents provide teaching, | | | | Extension Services have a Master Gardener |
| research and informational services to the public | | | | Program. This program provides extensive |
| regarding many aspects of plant horticulture, plant | | | | classroom training in horticulture, entomology, soil |
| physiology, entomology, soil science, botany, and | | | | science, botany, plant pathology and pesticide |
| fertilizer and pesticides. They are available to | | | | safety. In exchange for this training, the Master |
| answer questions, provide diagnosis, and provide | | | | Gardener agrees to further volunteer their time |
| training and information based on the local area | | | | to the community using the knowledge they have |
| based on years of experience and research. Best | | | | gained. This program provides valuable training and |
| of all, they are accessible either in your local or | | | | is very rewarding. |
| regional area and generally provide their services | | | | To grow a yard and garden that is beautiful and |
| for free or for a minimal fee. | | | | enjoyable requires the gardener to have a wide |
| Areas of technical expertise provided by the | | | | range of technical knowledge. This knowledge |
| Cooperative Extension Service include gardening, | | | | would cover all aspects of plants and plant |
| fruits and vegetables, trees, bees, lawns, plant | | | | growth, plant nutrition, insects and disease and |
| health, insects and pesticides, soil sampling and | | | | general plant care. To gain this knowledge can |
| fertilizer, water quality and plant disease. A few | | | | require dedication and time. We are fortunate to |
| examples of the services that are provided | | | | have experts to assist us who are trained and |
| include: | | | | available to the public without requiring a costly |
| Every lawn and garden has different care | | | | investment on our part. Generally, the only charge |
| requirements to grow the healthiest and most | | | | is for materials and outside services, i.e. sampling |
| productive plants. Generally, this begins with a soil | | | | or lab fees. If you have questions about your |
| sample to determine the type of soil, the fertilizer | | | | yard or garden, consider contacting your local or |
| requirements, and the water usage needed. An | | | | regional Cooperative Extension Service-they are |
| Extension Agent can instruct in how to properly | | | | available to help you. |
| collect a soil sample and then assist in getting the | | | | |