Delaware County
Master Gardener Association




Welcome!

Delaware County Master Gardeners are avid about horticulture and eager learners. This site is one way we share these passions and provide "environmentally sound, research-based gardening practices" with our communities. 

Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer

Answering the public's questions about gardening using science-based information is an important objective of the Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program. Submit your landscape, yard, and garden questions here.

On this page...

Westerville Arborfest and Delaware County Master Gardeners

September 2023


Saturday, September 23, was a beautiful day for those visiting the Westerville ArborFest!  Many exhibitors (both old and new) were there to greet them, Including DCMGA.  


Susan Alexander and Jon Kerr met many adults and children and provided answers to numerous questions on trees.    While the parents were talking, the children were happily engaged in hammering black walnut nuts to find the hidden fruits Inside (or just because hammering them is fun!).   


This is the fifth year DCMGA has hosted a table at the event.


(Note:  parents gave permission for child's photo to be displayed on our website)

Delaware County Master Gardeners Are at The Delaware County Fair

September 2023


DCMGA has made an even greater presence this year at the Delaware County Fair, with a booth in the Merchants Building as well as a table in the Junior Fair tent.    


This year's theme is all about the bugs that are bugging you:  spotted lantern fly, bag worms, cabbage worms,  tent caterpillars, and  tomato hornworm, to name just a few.


Master Gardeners were available to answer questions from the many visitors to the booth.  We talked about vegetables, flowers, flowers for shade, bugs, planned gardens, fertilizers, soils, how to become a Master Gardener, and many more topics.  


Larry Hohman (seen with Master Gardener Pam Foster) and his team set up a great display!  Also featured are Master Gardener Gretta Kumpf and Intern Kevin Kelly.  


Delaware County MGVs Judge 4-H Vegetables

September 2023


Gretta Kumpf and Susan DeVol spent a delightful Saturday morning at the Delaware County Fair's 4-H building with a large group of youths who spent the year planting and growing vegetables, fruits, nuts, and sunflowers.  Their ages ranged from six to 19  and their experience varied from first year gardeners to those who have grown more vegetables in their short lives than Susan has!  A third judge helped keep the youth moving  through the process.  


The youngsters were evaluated on the marketability of their produce, their presentation, the size and condition of the vegetables, and  whether they completed their program booklet and community projects.  Each vegetable was graded between an A and C (thankfully, no Cs were given) and special effort was awarded with an Outstanding ribbon.    


The three judges then reviewed the vegetables as a whole and selected the Best of Show in nine categories:  Best Vegetable Exhibit, Largest Pumpkin, Best Seed Picture, Best Decorated Pumpkin, Largest Sunflower Head, Tallest Sunflower, Best Garden Display, Best Fruit or Nut Exhibit, and Best Vegetable Exhibitor.  


The judges were exhausted at the conclusion and the  kids seemed to be exuberant.  So, it was judged that a great time was had by all!


(Note:  parents of children gave permission to have their photos displayed on our website)

September MGV Advanced Certification Program - Weeds Class 

September 2023


September saw us welcomed by  Stratford Ecological Center staff and volunteers again.   We began the day with an Informative presentation by Jenny Adkins, professional wetlands scientist with MAD Scientists.  Jenny's wetland botany primer led us through what defines a wetland; Introduced us to Google Earth Pro, through which you can access aerial photos (some as far back as the late 1980s); as well as the good and bad plants In wetlands.  

Next came Andrew Boose, aquatic ecologist with MetroParks, who helps care for 3,700+ acres of wetlands and 200 ponds and lakes.  Andrew provided Information on how to ensure your wetlands stay healthy and what can be done if they are ailing.  Of special Importance to some was his notes on how to discourage geese from your sit (don't mow to the edge of the pond/lake, put large rocks near the edge of water, get a dog, frighten them with machinery (just don't kill them!).  

The class took a short break to practice weed identification using an online quiz developed by William Reiser.  Debra Identified the most weeds In the fastest amount of time! 

Dale Miller of Miller's Country Gardens discussed greenhouse pests (fungus gnats, shore flies, caterpillars, slugs and snails)  and how to prevent or eradicate them.  He stressed that your growing medium should be allowed to dry completely, even to the point of plant wilt, between watering to lessen possible Issues and to help prevent plant legginess.  He recommended a peat moss-based potting mix that Includes lime, vermiculite, and perlite.

Our final speaker was a repeat performance by Dr Tim McDermott, DVM, OSUE.  This month Tim discussed agricultural crop and pasture weeds.  A 2022 survey Identified the five most common crop weeds to be (in order of most to less): giant ragweed, waterhemp (Includes palmer amaranth, aka pigweed), marestail, grass/foxtail, and volunteer corn In soybean fields.    Tim  stressed not allowing a pasture to be overgrazed, as it leaves ample opportunity for weeds to grow, especially the highly toxic cressleaf groundsel, multiflora rose, autumn olive, and spotted knapweed.