"Welcome to the home page of the North Stonington Garden Club. It is our mission to spread the joy of gardening and to promote good gardening practices through education, outreach, and by example."

Karen McGee, President

The 2013 Garden Club Scholarship

The North Stonington Garden Club will award a $1,000.00 scholarship to a North Stonington resident, or any student who is sponsored by a member of the NSGC, who will be or is currently pursuing a higher education degree in horticulture, conservation, environmental studies, plant science, landscape design/architecture or a related field.

The North Stonington Garden Club Scholarship Committee will review all of the applications and select a recipient. The award will be given to the award recipient in June, 2013.

Students shall complete the NS Garden Club Scholarship application and return it by June 1, 2013. Please email or mail the application to:

North Stonington Garden Club
Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 266
North Stonington, CT 06359
or email to: dmalchman@aol.com

Plant Sale Time!

Our members are gearing up for the 2013 Plant Sale. We're planning digs and displays, creating plant lists and collecting choice garden-related rummage. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 11, 9:00 am.

What Does Soil pH Tell You?

The Garden Club will again have URI Master Gardener Soil Testers at our sale, doing pH testing. What does knowing the pH of your soil tell you? This handy fact sheet from West Virginia University (pdf file) lists common garden and houseplants and what their preferred pH range is. For example, hydrangeas like it acidic, with a pH of 4.5, while wisteria likes it sweet, with a pH in the range of 6.75 to 7.5.

Free Soil Testing for Connecticut Residents

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Stations in New Haven and Windsor offer free comprehensive soil tests to Connecticut residents. You can find out how to take a sample, and where to send your sample, at their website. We will also have this information at the “Ask a Master Gardener” booth at our plant sale.

 

The mission of the North Stonington Garden Club is to promote good gardening practices thru education, outreach and example. We are pleased that you are planning to pursue studies in this area, and we wish you much success.

The Importance of Soil Testing

Why should you test your soil?

(This year, the garden club will have URI Master Gardener soil testing experts at our Plant Sale. See below for information on how to take a sample to bring to the Sale for testing.) Getting a soil test, whether you are growing vegetables, flowers, or a lawn, is the most important test that you can do to achieve the best results. Trained Master Gardeners will evaluate the texture and the pH of your soil sample and provide you with advice on how to improve your growing conditions, if that is necessary. In addition, the Master Gardeners will offer advice on any gardening, lawn care or tree problem you may have.

I want to bring a soil sample to the Plant Sale. How do I take a sample?

Using a clean trowel, take and combine several smaller samples in each separate area of your property that you want to test at the depth of 3-4" for lawn, 6-8" for vegetables and flowers and 12 -18" for fruit trees. Do not sample recently fertilized, limed, or very wet soil. You can take the sample from different parts of the lawn or the garden.

Take approximately one cup of soil and spread it on a piece of paper to dry overnight.

Transfer the sample to a small zip-lock bag. Write on the bag with a Sharpie your name and the type of plants you grow or want to grow in that area of your yard and bring it to the Sale. All inquiries are welcome.

Speaking of the Plant Sale

Have you ever wondered what the Garden Club does with the Plant Sale proceeds? We give a scholarship, and donate regularly to various groups in the area. We also have a discretionary funds grant system for worthy projects. Click below to see where your plant money goes!

(click on image to embiggen)