Oak Hill Garden Center
Oak Hill Garden Center is a wonderful addition to the Somerset community. Our garden center offers annuals, perennials, house plants, succulents, ferns and herbs. With three greenhouses, vegetable garden, pumpkin patch and poinsettias, Oak Hill offers something for everyone throughout the year.
The garden center provides a service to the community and vocational opportunity for individuals with IDD who live at Oakwood and in the Somerset Community.
Barb Hettmansperger is the Greenhouse Manager at Oakwood. This program provides individuals with IDD meaningful activity and engages the community.
Hours
Monday - Friday · 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday · Seasonal
Sunday · Closed
Located on Oak Hill Road. Take Light 11 on US Highway 27 · 606.677.4195
Barb’s Gardening Tips - Summertime Gardening
June 6, 2022
Finally it’s summer time and most of us are longing to be able to travel. Whether you are taking a weekend at the beach or several weeks visiting family, make sure to have a plan in place for keeping your houseplants watered while you are away. The more natural light your plant receives, the more thirsty it will be over time. Move your plants a bit farther away from their source of direct light by placing them in the center of a room and away from the windows. Even a full-sun plant will be fine for a short time in less than ideal conditions.
Upcycle glass bottles by filling them with water and punching a small hole in the bottle top. Turn the bottle upside down and stick it deep into your plant’s potting soil. Make sure the hole is small so the water is released slowly. By using this method your plants will gradually be watered over several days. Add a layer of mulch or wood chips to the surface of your pots. Then give you plants a good soaking before you leave on your trip. This extra insulation will help retain the moisture and keep your plants happy. A completely different strategy many people are opting for is using low-maintenance plants such as succulents in their indoor landscape.
Succulent plants store water in their thick, fleshy leaves and seem to thrive on neglect. Many can withstand several weeks without being watered. No one wants to worry about their houseplants while trying to enjoy a much needed vacation. By making a plan and practicing a few simple steps before departure, you can make a difference for your plants while you are away.
Happy Gardening,
Barb
Barb’s Gardening Tips - Why We Garden
June 1, 2022
When I think of summertime, I always associate it with gardening. Gardening to me is one of the most rewarding, healthy and entertaining activities. But why do others garden? Over the past several weeks, I conducted an informal survey with just one simple question: “Why do you garden?” And the results are in!
The number one response I received could be summed up in this: “Because I love to garden.” I lumped several similar responses together such as, “It makes me happy,” “There’s nothing better than being outside in my garden” and “It’s in my blood, I’ve been gardening my whole life.” The number two response focused on being able to harvest fresh vegetables all summer. Lastly, several people mentioned that gardening was relaxing and a “stress buster”. After a long, hard day of dealing with life, people want a release.
In summary, people seem to garden mainly for the intangible benefits they receive. By gardening, one can expect a connection with nature, improved mental and physical health and an overall better life.
Happy Gardening,
Barb
Barb’s Gardening Tips - A Frosty April
April 28, 2021
Mother Nature has shown us once again just how unpredictable she can be! It’s not very often that Kentucky has a wide spread snow event in April, but many areas north of Lexington registered an inch or more accumulation. What’s a gardener to do when we’re “itching” to plant our flower and vegetable seedlings? I know it’s hard to wait, but the “frost free” date for the majority of the Kentucky is May 8th. This is the date where statistically there is a zero percent chance of frost occurring; and is important, because most tender seedlings will not survive 32 degrees or lower. So instead of planting now, resist the temptation and spend these next few weeks fine tuning your garden plans. Soon enough the weather will be cooperative and you’ll be rewarded this summer.
We have had many customers at the Garden Center asking about mosquito plants, the majority of the mosquito plant starts were killed when the heat went out in the greenhouse in February. Barb has been recently been able to make a limited supply of cuttings to sell in May, we will let you know when ready.
Happy Gardening,
Barb
Barb’s Gardening Tips - Springtime in Kentucky
March 31, 2021
Hello Gardeners,
Are you looking to be a little more self-sufficient this year and have decided to plant a vegetable garden? You might begin with a quick trip to your local big box or farm store and check out their seed offerings. Most stores have an amazing variety of cultivars and seed companies to choose from.
The first step in the gardening process is knowing how much room you have in your garden to plant your vegetables. Measure your available space and roughly make a sketch of the area, then plot out the rows of vegetables you would like to grow. This exercise alone will give you an indication of how much seed or seedlings you may need to purchase. Certain vegetables, such as root crops - carrots, beets, and potatoes - and legumes - anything in the bean or pea family - need to be direct seeded into your garden soil. Other vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and melons, thrive when planted as germinated seedlings, after the frost-free date in Kentucky.
A little early season pre-planning will help ensure your project is a success later this spring!
Happy Gardening,
Barb