Mercer County Programs

Great Garden Giveaway

This spring, we are offering free vegetable seeds to Mercer County residents! Simply stop by our office, answer a brief gardening survey, then take your seed home to enjoy! 

Click here to visit the Great Garden Giveaway webpage

 
Lawn and Garden Talk Series

Want to improve your green thumb? Are you curious about beneficial insects or pollinators? Perhaps you are passionate about creating a beautiful and sustainable outdoor space. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our Lawn and Garden Talk Series is the perfect place to grow your knowledge and skills.

Join us on the last Wednesday of each month from April to September at 6:00 PM for a series of free, informative, and engaging talks. Our knowledgeable speakers will cover a wide range of topics, including vegetables, plants, trees, insects, and lawns. You'll gain valuable insights, tips, and tricks to help you achieve the garden of your dreams. Each session is designed to be interactive, providing you with the opportunity to ask questions and connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts.

Talks are held in the Conference Room of the Mercer County Ag Center, located at 4978 Mud Pike, Celina, OH 45822. All talks are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

Join us for these exciting talks in 2025:

  • April 30: Next Level Exteriors: New and Exciting Trends in Landscaping with Steve Stone from Nature's Green Nursery
  • May 28: Honey Bees Are In Trouble; What Can I Do To Help? with Mike Beougher from Beougher Honey Farms
  • June 25: Major Garden Debate: Raised Beds vs Traditional with Caden Buschur from OSU Extension Darke County
  • July 30: All Fertilizers Are Not Created Equal, So What's Best For My Plants? with Ryan McMichael from OSU Extension Mercer County
  • August 27: From Stem to Centerpiece: Crafting Cut Floral Radiance with Marily Schweitzer from OSU Master Gardener Volunteers
  • September 24: Fungi Farming: Growing Your Own Mushrooms with Kayla Wise from OSU Extension Williams County

All classes begin at 6:00pm.

 

Garden Cover Crop

A closeup shot of cover crop seed, a mix of rye, oat, and radish

In previous years, Mercer County OSU Extension, in collaboration with the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District, has provided free Fall Cover Crop Seed to vegetable gardeners in the county. Any Mercer County resident could receive up to 3 pounds of a cover crop seed mix for their vegetable garden. Pictured is a mix of radish, oat, and rye seed.

Planting a cover crop can reduce soil erosion, suppress weed seeds, maintain soil nutrient levels, and increase earthworm activity for their vegetable gardens. Farmers have been utilizing cover crops for many of these same reasons and plan to continue planting cover crop seeds for numerous soil health benefits. It is recommended to plant the cover crop seed as soon as vegetable gardens are cleaned up and put to rest for the season. Seeding should occur before mid-October for best results. Residents should know their garden size in square feet before coming to the Mercer County Extension Office to pick up seed.

Check back in the fall to see when we will have cover crop seed available again.

 

Resources

Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine provides timely information about Ohio growing conditions, pest, disease, and cultural problems. Articles and supporting photos are created by members of the Extension, Nursery, Landscape, Turf (ENLT) team to benefit those who are managing a commercial nursery, garden center, or landscape business or someone who just wants to keep their yard looking good all summer. 

Fact sheet about soil testing for lawns and gardens