URBAN HORTICULTURE CENTER
A Gardening Service Facility
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URBAN HORTICULTURE CENTER A Gardening Service Facility |
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| What Is The Urban Horticulture Center? The Urban Horticulture Center (UHC) is a home gardening information and assistance facility located in the Visitor's Center of the Riverbanks Botanical Garden at the Riverbanks Zoo. It is operated and staffed by the Clemson University Extension Service. The UHC provides horticulture information services to the home gardening public in the greater Columbia, South Carolina area and to the public at large visiting Riverbanks Botanical Garden. The UHC is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wed through Sun, March through October. What Services Does The Urban Horticulture Center Provide? Essentially, the UHC provides the same horticulture services as your local county extension office. These are the services you can expect: Plant Problem Diagnosis The UHC staff can diagnosis plant disease and insect pest problems based on sample materials provided or on a description of the plant problem. The UHC is equipped with diagnostic references and equipment to assist the staff in identifying a problem and making a recommendation. The UHC is also equipped with a high resolution computer monitor upon which the magnified image of a plant pathogen or insect infestation can be projected for easy identification. Plant information from the internet is available to the staff and to visitors to assist in finding the solution to a plant problem or the answer to a gardening question. Plant Selection Home owners may receive assistance from the UHC in determining what landscape plants are best suited for their particular growing environment. Recommendations by the UHC staff can also be made about using plants, shrubs and trees exhibited at the Riverbanks Botanical Garden in the home landscape Plant Problem/Insect Pest Identification, and Soil Analysis When the UHC or county extension office staff can not positively identify a plant problem, they recommend that plant material, insect specimen and/or soil sample be sent to the Clemson Extension Plant Problem Clinic for analysis and recommendation. The UHC staff can process plant materials, insect specimens and soil samples for Plant Problem Clinic analysis and recommendation. How Is the Urban Horticulture Center Staffed? The UHC is staffed by four Clemson Extension Service employees; an extension agent, and three master gardeners who have been especially trained in plant problem solving. In addition, the UHC staff has the support of the horticulture expertise of the Richland and Lexington County Extension Service staff, and the horticulture faculty and research facilities of Clemson University. At least one staff member is on duty at the UHC Wed through Sun. |
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