Gardening

Welcome to the Home Horticulture pages of Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Albany County. Here you will find useful information to help you select and maintain plants for your home and garden, recognize and manage plant diseases and insect problems, and maintain the landscape of your Capital Region (zones 4-5) home. You can also find information on the demonstration gardens that are maintained by our Master Gardeners beautifying various sites and used to educate the public about good horticultural practices. Be sure to visit the seasonal information as it will assist you in making your garden a success. Come grow with us!


Home Horticulture

Who we are and what we can do to help you garden better. Cooperative Extension traditionally has been the link to the community from Cornell to share good horticultural practices and information with the public. Our services are low cost and timely ways for the gardener to learn more about the science behind the practices.

Soil basics: what is pH? Knowing your soil pH is the key to good gardening basics. If the pH is off for what you are trying to grow, then the plants languish despite fertilizer applications. Correct pH insures that plants can draw nutrients from the soil.

Gardening month by month A guide of things to do in the garden.

 

Seasonal Topics & Events:

Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association 2008 Spring Seminar

Evict and Exile Mice From Your Home

Grubs in Your Lawn

Installing a Rain Garden

Using Organic Matter in the Garden

Horticultural hot topics: information about the current questions coming in to the horticultural Hotline
ants, bed bugs, pantry moths, stinging insects, tomato diseases, dealing with Bambi, and global warming

What is a Master Gardener? ~ learn about the Master Gardener Program in Albany County and how you can volunteer!

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)~ a simple and practical way to help manage pests when they attack plants or invade our homes.

Programs and workshops:

  • Capital District Garden & Flower Show: Come visit Cornell Cooperative Extension’s exhibit and talk with a Master Gardener about your gardening questions.  Bring a soil sample to be tested for pH for a donation of $1~ results will be forwarded shortly after the show ends. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County will also be sponsoring several workshops throughout the weekend.  The show is held every year at HVCC in March.
  • Talks in the Garden~ Join us for a summer evening in the Memorial Garden at 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, N.Y. The garden is our outdoor classroom for these informal, no charge sessions which start at 6:00 pm and last about an hour. The talks will take place on June 10, July 22, August 19, and September 16, 2008.
  • Garden Education Day is Saturday, May 17, 2008, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  It is a “super” plant sale, white elephant sale, with baked goods and other food items. There are mini horticultural classes in the garden and the Albany County Master Gardeners are on hand to answer gardening questions.
  • Master Forest Owner Volunteer~ These volunteers are trained in woodlot management and will walk your property with you to offer advice and answer questions about forested areas.  Call the Master Gardener hotline at 518-765-3500 and request the name of a Master Forest Owner volunteer near you.
  • Demonstration Gardens~maintained by Albany County Master Gardeners
         
    o Memorial Garden /front demonstration garden at 24 Martin Road in Voorheesville, NY
          
    o Ten Broeck Mansion Gardens in downtown Albany.
          
    o Pine Hills Butterfly Garden at the Pine Hills branch of the Albany Public Library,
       Western Avenue, Albany, NY
          
    o Historic Cherry Hill at 5231/2 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY
          
    o Bozenkill Park in Altamont, NY

    Need a speaker? Extension staff and the Master Gardeners speak on a variety of topics.
    Want to join a Garden Club?
    • Root Concerns; Notes From the Underground email newsletter (link to current newsletter)

    Click to add name to email list


    How to contact us?
    Master Gardener email address: albanymastergardener@cornell.edu
    Hotline: 518-765-3500