Ontario County Master Gardener Spring Garden Symposium
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Steamboat Landing
205 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua, NY 14424

Are you longing for Spring? Cabin fever got you down? Don't despair! Come join the Ontario County Master Gardener's Spring Garden Symposium for a day of horticultural inspiration.
 
Edible Landscape: Kevin and Mary Schoonover
Mary and Kevin will describe their often chaotic journey - what's gone right; what's gone wrong and the lessons they've learned. They will talk about the importance of selecting appropriate varieties; developing a rotation schedule; creating and understanding microclimates within the landscape; amending soil to meet plants' varied nutritional needs; rising to challenges presented by disease and pests; and being open to the joys and tribulations that gardening brings.
 
Sustainable Pest Management for Homeowners; Jana Lamboy
I. Why should we reduce our exposure to pesticides? The debates and issues related to pest management on home grounds
II. Approaches taken in conventional pest management compared to Integrated Pest Management and organic solutions, not just different products but different values
III. Key pests in landscape, flower gardens and vegetable gardens: vertebrate, insect and mite, weeds, and diseases. Resources and practical strategies
IV. Special cases of merit including competition for food, aesthetic damage, and valuable trees
V. Discussion with participants, their specific problems and some appropriate choices
VI. What would be the "greener" route to take in protecting our gardens?
 
Fixing Broken Soils: Joann Gruttadaurio
Learn how to fix challenges like soil compaction, poor drainage, low nutrient status and water holding ability that ultimately effect plant health. Strategies for improving these common problems of poor soils, while protecting water quality and minimizing leaching or off-site movement of nutrients (fertilizers) and pesticides, will be covered.
 
How to Invite Weeds into Your Landscape: Joann Gruttadaurio
Or what can we do to minimize the invasion of these pretty pests into our gardens, beds and lawns! We will also look at a couple of alternative and conventional control options based on "thresholds" for action.
 
The cost of the symposium is $40.00 per person, which includes lunch, lecture handouts and refreshments. Registration deadline is February 4, 2013. The registration flyer is available at: www.cceontario.org
For more information or to receive a flyer, call 585-394-3977 x 427 or email nea8@cornell.edu