Master Gardener Volunteers The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides intensive training
in horticulture to interested Ohio residents, who then volunteer their time assisting with
educational programs and activities for Ohio residents through their local OSU Extension county
office. Volunteers are not required to have gardening skills or knowledge; but a passion for
learning about gardening and sharing this knowledge with others is a must! Working with county
Extension personnel, Master Gardener Volunteers provide such educational services to their
communities as: answering gardening questions from the public; conducting plant clinics; gardening
activities with children, senior citizens, or disabled persons; beautifying the community; and
developing community or demonstration gardens.
The first group of Master Gardeners to be trained by Extension professionals was in the state of
Washington in 1972. The first MG programs in Ohio originated in the late 1970’s in the larger urban
counties. More than 65 Ohio counties are now served by about 4,000 MG volunteers.
Henry County Master Gardener Volunteer Program was first taught in 2004. Our class photo is with
Fred Hower. Today, the Master Gardener Volunteer Program is still going strong with volunteers very
active throughout the County providing education, service and beautification. There are currently
15 active, unpaid Master Gardener Volunteers in Henry County. Master Gardeners would like to thank
the community for their support and look forward to serving the public with more project work and
education in the future!
Henry County Master Gardener General Meeting
First Tuesday of each month - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Henry County Extension Office
Hahn Center Room #335, 104 E. Washington Street Napoleon, Ohio 43545
If you are interested in applying to become a MG, call the OSU Extension office or contact Tamara
Spillis: 419-592-0806. Ask to be added to the mailing list for the next MG training class. You will
be contacted by the Extension office when the next training class will be offered. Each prospective
MG fills out an application, is interviewed by the MG coordinator and then is notified if he/she
has been selected to become part of the MG training class. Upon successful completion of fifty
hours of the MG training program, each volunteer is expected to provide fifty hours of horticultural education to the community through activities and programs of the Henry County Master Gardeners organization. You could make a great Master Gardener Volunteer if:
• You want to learn more about plants and gardening.
• You are eager to participate in practical and intensive training programs.
• You enjoy sharing your knowledge with others.
• You have the time to attend training and serve your community as a volunteer educator.
More information about state-level Master Gardener Volunteer programs and training is available at:
State Master Gardener Website.
Helpful Links
Ask an Expert
MGV VMS (password required)
Henry County Master Gardener Help Line Need some INFORMATION? Call us at the Help Line! From April through October Mondays 10 a.m. to noon
Phone: 419-592-0806
The Master Gardeners of Henry County offer a Help Line during the growing season. This is open to
gardeners in the area who have questions or requests for information. This line is staffed with
trained Master Gardener volunteers who can assist you. Its main purpose is to provide county
residents with a competent, unbiased source of horticulture information, which may be consulted for
answers to their plant or insect problems. Master Gardener Volunteers take advantage of yearly
continuing education opportunities and provide volunteer community service to educate the public
with specific answers to questions regarding botany, soils, fertilizer, IPM (integrated pest
management), entomology, plant propagation, plant pathology, plant diagnostics, woody ornamentals,
herbaceous ornamentals, herbs, houseplants, water gardens, weeds, turf, vegetables, small fruit
production, and trees. So, if you have questions about a plant or insect in your lawn, garden, or
landscape, the Henry County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can help you find an answer.
You can also bring samples into the Ohio State University Extension of Henry County office. At the
times noted above, a Master Gardener will be available to assist you. Samples may be left at any
time. Bring a sample in a Ziploc bag or covered container. If someone is not available to assist
you at that time, you will be called when someone is available.
Often plant problems directly relate to availability of soil nutrients. Our extension office has
soil test kits for home use. The cost is around $10 which includes analyses by an agricultural lab
and return postage. It can be the best first step for accurate diagnosis.
Please note: We do not have laboratory facilities, so we do a visual analysis only. Sometimes we
are unable to arrive at a conclusion and may direct you to send plant or insect samples to the Ohio
State University C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. http://ppdc.osu.edu/
Additional Resources
Buckeye Yard & Garden onLine
Emerald Ash Borer Horticulture & Crop Science
Integrated PestManagement
Ohio Grape Web
Ohioline - OSU Factsheets & Publications
OSU Floriculture
Plant Facts
VegNet
Educational Resources at Extension Office for Purchase
Mushrooms and Macrofungi of Ohio and the Midwestern States: A Resource Handbook
Native Plants of Ohio
This bulletin provides a comprehensive list of plants for those who wish to include native plants
in their landscapes. Although there are many native plant lists available, most of these sources
list plants native to all of North America or to broader regions in the United States. The plants
in this booklet are species specifically native to Ohio, although some may have limited
distribution.
Product Code: 865
Pages: 48
Availability: In stock.
Price: $10.50
Ohio Trees (Hardbound)
Product Code: 700NR
Pages: 212 Availability: In stock.
Price: $17.00
PRICE REDUCED TO $16.50 AS OF AUGUST 31, 2009.
Ohio Trees is an extensive guide to identifying Ohio's native tree species. This book provides a brief history and foundation of Ohio trees and regions, diagrams, photographs, and a key to distinguish each native tree, listed in alphabetical order within families. A glossary of terms is located in the back
