What is Horticulture Extension?

The Jefferson County Extension Office Horticulture program provides educational training and technical assistance to our community. Our technical services include soil testing, disease diagnosis, and plant, weed, and insect identification. Cooperative Extension is the major provider of research-based information for consumers and horticulture businesses.

Jefferson County Master Gardeners

To be put on the list to receive information regarding the next Master Gardener class please call 502-569-2344.

Current Master Gardeners click here to log into PACE

Community Gardens

We manage 10 Community Gardens throughout Louisville/Jefferson County. This popular program provides access to plots that range in size, depending on the garden. Plots are rented by the year, with the option to renew your plot rental each year, so you have the opportunity to garden year-round. At most gardens, water and small equipment, like tillers, are provided at no additional cost.

For more information email jennifer.palmer@uky.edu.

Soil Samples

Although fertilizer, lime, and other amendments can be very helpful in establishing happy, healthy plants and lawns, they pose a risk if not used properly. Excess fertilizer and chemicals wash away with rainwater and pollute our local streams and waterways. The first guideline of responsible fertilizer application is to take a soil sample and have it analyzed to determine fertilizer needs. The Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is offering a soils test incentive program to offset the cost for Louisville Metro residents. The SWCD will provide up to 2 vouchers per household to cover the processing fee for a standard soils test. You can fill out voucher form in our office.

A Standard soil test is $8 per sample.  Lead testing is $22 per sample. Check or money order only.

Bring two cups of dry soil per sample to the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service at 4200 Gardiner View Avenue, Suite 101, Louisville, KY 40213 (inside the Jefferson County Farm Bureau building) for testing.

You will want a representative, random sample from the area you are interested in testing. Sample gardens, lawns, and landscaped areas separately. Collect cores randomly from each area. The area to sample for trees includes the soil below the width of the tree. For shrubs, flower beds, and gardens, sample just the soil where the plants are growing. You should sample problem areas and areas with shrubs, trees, or flower beds separately from other turf or lawn areas. Do not sample:

• compost areas,
• under the drip-line of trees, and
• close to driveways or streets.