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HORTICULTURE ASSISTANCE

A variety of horticulture assistance is available through Marathon County UW-Extension. Your questions are handled by trained volunteers from North Central WI Master Gardeners, and supported by campus-based specialists.

Garden Line

261-1237 or
800-234-1471 (toll-free)
Available year-round

UW Extension phone 'Hot Line'. Call this number, leave a voice mail message with your name, phone number, and the question you have. A trained Master Gardener from our volunteer program will do the research and return your call.

Email help

ncwimg@mail.co.marathon.wi.us Email
Available year-round

Attaching a digital image (jpeg or tiff are preferred) will often help with diagnosis. Include detailed information on conditions, symptoms, treatments used, etc… Important: emails are responded to on a weekly basis, not daily.

Free Garden Clinics

Begins May 14, 2008

Master Gardeners are available to answer your questions, diagnose your problem plants, or identify bugs during specific office hours. Clinics are staffed every Wednesday from May 14 through September 10, 10am - 2pm at Marathon County UW Extension, 212 River Drive, Suite 3, Wausau.

Diagnostic sevices

Available year-round

Marathon UW-Extension provides basic diagnostic services and information on plant diseases, insects, pests, and weeds. In addition, our staff and Master Gardeners are supported by several state-based diagnostic labs that provide help with identifying disease, insect, or weed problems >>>


Horticulture markets... View local horticulture-related events... Master Gardener Forms... Stay informed with Weekly Updates... Horticulture Links...

HORTICULTURE PROGRAM

Garden Clinics

Free Garden Clinics Available, Every Wednesday

Open clinics directly with Master Gardeners are available to answer your questions, diagnose your problem plants, or identify bugs. Clinics are staffed seasonally on Wednesdays from May 14th through September 10th at Marathon County UW Extension, from 10am - 2 pm at 212 River Drive, Suite 3, Wausau.


Garden Walk 2008

Garden Walk 2008 — July 11-12

Tour of five outstanding gardens in the Rib Mountain area and the Neighbor's Place Community Garden. Friday, July 11 from 1-7 pm, and Saturday, July 12 from 9 am - 3 pm. Tickets/Garden Guides available at any of the private gardens on the days of the tour, or beginning in June at UW Cooperative Extension, 212 River Dr, Ste 3, Wausau (office hours 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday-Friday). Tickets: $10 per person. Sponsored by North Central Wisconsin Master Gardeners. Proceeds to benefit Monk Gardens, Northern Wisconsin's first public gardens. For more information including garden information >>>


Composting bin and stainless kitchen pail...

Home Composter & Kitchen Pail Sale

The home composting bin with 13 cubic feet capacity, is made with recycled material, holds 6-8 30-gallon bags of yard waste, has a 10-year warranty and includes a free How-To book. The stainless-steel kitchen pail, with a 9.5 inch diameter and 8.5 inches high holds more than one and a half gallons or cooking scraps. It's stainless-steel won't take on the smell of onion scraps or the color of beet juice. Each will be available to purchase through the Marathon County Solid Waste department. Brochure with prices for bins and pails will be posted on this website as soon as prices are finalized. This is a PRE-ORDER SALE ONLY BY APRIL 15 and your items can be picked up Friday, May 2, or Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Marathon Park, Wausau. PDF file Home Composter & Kitchen Pail Sale (2 pages, 112 KB)


Wildflowers and butterflies

Wildflowers and Butterflies Naturally Together - May 5, 2-3:15 p.m. or 6-7:15 p.m.

This program will introduce you to the relationship of native Wisconsin wildflowers and the butterflies that feed upon them during one or more of their life stages. This presentation will focus on an appropriate selection of wildflowers for your garden or meadow to include the choices provided by canned wildflower seed blends, individual seed packets, and established nursery plants. This program will be held twice on Monday, May 5. Choose to attend from 2-3:15 pm or from 6-7:15 pm. Both programs will be held at 212 River Dr, Rm 5, Wausau. PDF file Wildflowers and Butterflies Naturally Together (1 page, 20 KB)


Home composting program

Home Composting Program - May 6 & 8

Learn to turn your table scraps, yard waste, and lawn clippings into wonderful rich humus soil known as compost. Home composting produces a great product for your garden. Plants grow bigger, better and more nutrients and water are held in the soil. It will save you money because it is organic and reduces your need for other lawn and garden products. It will reduce the amount of trash you generate. Choose to attend one of these dates: Tuesday, May 6; Thursday, May 8. All the programs will be held from 6-7:30 pm at 212 River Dr, Wausau. Program cost $3. PDF file Home Composting flyer (1 page, 87 KB)


Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

Gypsy Moth Information & Suppression Program

Wisconsin residents are encouraged to call the Gypsy Moth Information Line for information about the spray program, yard tree calls, general information. The number is: 1-800-642-MOTH. Starting this spring, the DNR call center will be answering calls to the Gypsy Moth Information Line, DNR branch, live, from 7 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. Callers will get a live, trained person on the line nearly anytime you are likely to call. Marathon County residents can sign up for the DNR's Suppression Program. For more information about the gypsy moth and the DNR's suppression program >>>


Lawn and gardens

Now Is The Time For Lawn & Garden Soil Testing

One of the first steps to successful gardening is having your soil tested. Marathon County UW-Extension can help you test soil from your lawn, vegetable garden, flowerbed, or for your trees and shrubs. For more information about soil sampling >>>


Yard Waste Sites Available...

Yard Waste Sites Re-open

Spring has finally arrives and yard clean-up is underway, residents are looking for a place to take yard waste. The Wausau area offers several locations available to drop off yard waste. Waste items include leaves, grass, pine needles, garden and flower debris, small tree branches, and brush. Each site carries some restrictions. For more information about yard waste sites, dates and location >>>


Rain Gardens

Rain Gardens Improve Water Quality In Your Community

Rain gardens are a way for homeowners as well as businesses to participate in the reduction of polluted runoff, simply by planting a specialized garden. The gardens are an infiltration technique whereby water is captured and has a chance to slowly filter into the ground. For more information about rain gardens >>>


Oak wilt

Protecting From Oak Wilt

Take care not to damage or prune oak trees during the summer months (April 1 to July 31). Oak wilt is a deadly tree disease caused by a fungus. It can kill even healthy oak trees quickly and, left unchecked, can spread quickly. It can spread underground through root contact from neighboring trees, overland via sap-feeding beetles, and from infected firewood that has been transported!


Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer Continues to Threaten State Trees


No one has seen one of the jewel-like beetles yet in Wisconsin, but foresters, arborists, and horticulturists are preparing for an attack of the Emerald Ash Borer. This insect has killed millions trees in the nearby states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, and was most recently confirmed in Illinois. The movement of infected logs and firewood is a primary factor in spreading this devastating insect.


Lawn and garden pesticides

Lawn & Garden Chemical Disposal

Environmental stewardship is a goal we all share, and Marathon County's Hazardous Waste Collections Facility helps make that goal a reality. Whenever possible, users of hazardous materials are strongly encouraged to use up any lawn and garden chemical for its intended purpose. There is even a program to leave unwanted product that's still in good condition for others to use. But, when you have unusable hazardous materials, the collection facility is the best disposal option.

PDF file Marathon Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (2 pages, 183 KB)

More "OFF-SEASON" HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS are available >>>


MASTER GARDENERS

Master GardenerThe Wisconsin Master Gardener Program teaches volunteers who in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, help people in the community better understand horticulture and their environment. Currently in Wisconsin there are over 1,600 trained Master Gardeners who volunteer over 100,000 hours to the UW-Extension and their communities. Become a Master Gardener in Marathon County >>>

Master Gardener Pottery Mug

Pottery mug

Price: $5

Dimensions: 4.5"H X 3.75"Dia.

Capacity: 16 ounces

Available at:

Marathon County - UW Extension
212 River Drive, Suite 3
Wausau, WI 54403-5476

Phone: 261-1231

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