Well, winter is almost over. If you can call this a winter. And, April is almost here. April brings the start of spring blooms and the beginning of the plant and pest diagnostic clinics in Mahoning and Columbiana counties. It is gardening advice for all — right here in the communities in which you live.

The clinics are a service of the OSU Extension Offices. The clinics are here to help you. If you have questions about your yard, or your plants or have pest problems. Then help is a phone call or visit to the extension office away.

The clinics are staffed by OSU Master Gardener volunteers who have been trained by and work under the guidance of the Extension Office. The clinics answer a range of questions including questions on flowers, vegetables, lawn care, trees, and shrubs. We also identify and recommend controls for garden and household pests. We identify plants and plant diseases and make recommendations on fertilizers and soil amendments. There is no cost for these services! This is due to the partnership of the extension — a cooperation between federal, state, and local communities.

All the answers you’ll get from the clinics are based in science. Our answers come from tests and evaluations conducted by universities and other government organizations. You will have the full expertise of OSU available to you. Our answers also come with additional university information about your question and recommendations about the options you have to address your situation.

Another service offered by the clinic is laboratory soil testing for your gardens, flower beds and lawns. Laboratory soil tests are much more accurate and provide more information than off the shelf soil test kits found in stores. Lawns, flower beds and garden soils should be tested every two to three years before applying fertilizer or other costly amendments. A laboratory soil test will tell you what amendments, if any, your soil needs. This can save you money by only buying what your soil truly needs. A soil test is only $20 per sample. This cost includes an experienced master gardener to go over your test results with you if you have questions.

If you can provide us a sample to go along with your question, this will help us find the answer faster. For plants a good sample includes stems, leaves, flowers and fruit / berries (if available).

If you think your plant has a disease provide a fresh sample showing diseased and healthy tissue.

For pest ID, collect one or more whole samples in a plastic bag or jar, with your name on the bag or jar.

For soil tests samples bring in a quart-size plastic bag of your soil. Information on how to take a soil sample can be found at http://go.osu.edu/soiltesting or call for instructions.

The first day for the Mahoning County’s clinic will be April 1. Then the clinic is open to the public each week on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon through the end of October. You also can call or come in any time during the week with your questions and will get a return call or information emailed back to you.

The clinic is brought to you by the Mahoning County Extension Office and the Mahoning County Commissioners. The clinic is in the OSU Extension Office at 490 S. Broad St., Canfield. The phone number is 330-533-5538.

Columbiana County’s clinic starts April 3 and is open to the public each Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. until the end of October. The extension office is located at 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 5, Lisbon OH, 44432. The phone is 330 424-7291.

Here’s to a great year in our yards and gardens.

Sprague is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.