A total of 182 respondents completed and returned the 2004 Buckeye Yard & Garden Line (BYGL) Survey. From their subscriptions, information from BYGL is then further disseminated to more than 845,000 additional persons through radio programs, newspaper columns and articles, Master Gardener volunteers, students, and other green-industry employees.
Typical comments from respondents included: “I have learned so much.” “A must read upon arrival.” “BYGL makes me look smart.” “Very informative and timely; very useful. I look forward to every issue.”
Some 91% of the survey respondents agreed that BYGL was useful to their job and business. For the individuals who responded to the survey, BYGL has had an estimated economic impact of more than $250,000. This is a significant under-representation of the economic impact, since no attempt was made to translate the reported impact to the overall BYGL audience.
The Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) is one of the key ways through which Ohio State University Extension and the Extension Nursery Landscape and Turf (ENLT) Team provide ornamental-plant and plant-problem information to the green industry, Extension offices, and the general public. This article answers some questions about BYGL and provides the results of the 2004 BYGL Evaluation Survey.
The Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) is a weekly update in the form of a horticultural newsletter. It is written by Ohio State University Extension educators and specialists, from a conference call held every Tuesday from April-September. BYGL is funded by the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and OSU Extension, with additional contributions from the Ohio Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (Ohio–ISA).
BYGL is written for green-industry professionals, Extension Educators, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, and other horticulturists in Ohio and throughout the United States, especially the Midwest.
Some of those receiving BYGL are members of the following: ONLA; ISA; Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF); Ohio Florists Association (OFA); Ohio Fruit Growers Association; Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers Association; Ohio Christmas Tree Association; Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA); Ohio Association of Garden Clubs; Ohio Sod Producers Association; American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA); American Horticultural Society (AHS); Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA); American Community Gardening Association (ACGA); Perennial Plant Association (PPA); and Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS).
There are three ways to receive BYGL — by e-mail, by fax subscription, and by going directly on the World Wide Web. Here’s how:
Fax subscriptions have a $40 fee to cover phone line costs. If you are a member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA), the Ohio Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (Ohio-ISA), or the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF), this fee is waived as part of your membership benefits.
Reading time during the growing season comes at a premium, and that is why BYGL is formatted in short bytes — one to two paragraphs — of the most relevant information on a particular topic. We also strive for a lively, user-friendly, and humorous style.
This is the World Wide Web version of BYGL, and it comes not only with the text of BYGL available, but also with hot links to color images of pests and plants referenced in the BYGL, and to more than 260,000 pages of information from Ohio State University and other land-grant universities.
BYGLive! is a series of informal programs held at arboreta throughout Ohio. The participants have a chance to see plants and plant and pest development throughout the season, to do some diagnostic troubleshooting, and to provide observations and insights that will add to the BYGL. The dates, times, locations, and contacts for each of these programs will be listed in the upcoming event section of BYGL. Stay tuned to find out where the closest BYGLive will be held in your part of the state.
Total Number of Returns: 182
Number of Commercial or For-Profit Companies: 89
(i.e., nursery; greenhouse; golf course; lawn-care service; contract landscape maintenance; tree care/arborist; garden center; industrial or office park/plant; landscape architect/designer; or supplier/dealer)
Number of Non-Profit Companies: 64
(i.e., Extension; park, school, college, or university; museum; cemetery/memorial garden; or government facility)
Number of Non-Professional Readers: 25
(i.e., home gardener or Extension Master Gardener)
Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association: 53
International Society of Arboriculture: 26
Ohio Turfgrass Foundation: 42
E-mail — 147
Fax — 22
Yes — 125
No — 37
| SA | = | Strongly Agree |
| A | = | Agree |
| N | = | Neutral |
| D | = | Disagree |
| SD | = | Strongly Disagree |
| NA | = | Not Applicable |
| SA | = | 98 |
| A | = | 56 |
| N | = | 00 |
| D | = | 00 |
| SD | = | 00 |
| NA | = | 14 |
| SA | = | 84 |
| A | = | 60 |
| N | = | 04 |
| D | = | 00 |
| SD | = | 00 |
| NA | = | 19 |
| SA | = | 31 |
| A | = | 87 |
| N | = | 35 |
| D | = | 01 |
| SD | = | 00 |
| NA | = | 14 |
| SA | = | 34 |
| A | = | 93 |
| N | = | 30 |
| D | = | 00 |
| SD | = | 00 |
| NA | = | 30 |
| SA | = | 43 |
| A | = | 63 |
| N | = | 21 |
| D | = | 00 |
| SD | = | 00 |
| NA | = | 39 |
| 1. | Number of new insects learned: | 1,967 |
| 2. | Number of new diseases learned: | 374 |
| 3. | Number of new cultural (non-insect, non-disease) problems learned: | 276 |
| 4. | Number of times pesticide use was improved: | 2,236 |
Yes — 81
No — 47
| Time savings to you and your operation | = | 46 |
| Reduction of pesticide usage | = | 53 |
| Proper selection of plant material | = | 34 |
| Proper selection of pesticides | = | 54 |
| Improved customer service | = | 53 |
One of the best publications out there — very helpful. I use the information continually. It is accurate and up-to-date. Keep up the good work.
— Alan Klonowski
Ohio Chapter of the ISA
A continuing education of sorts for us. BYGL gives us the current and updated information that we need to know to share with customers and employees about what is happening in the Central Ohio landscape.
— Cindy Dill
Dalgara’s Landscaping and Garden Center
Publication is very useful for employees. It is required reading for all staff and personnel (full-time, part-time, and seasonal).
— David Gasior
Village Green
The first place our Master Gardeners check for current horticulture information.
— Dusty Sonnenberg
OSU Extension, Henry County
BYGL is very helpful to our company and customers. Keep up the good work!
— Keith Hiser
Wasson Nursery
Essential to the green industry! It keeps us up-to-date on the latest disease and insect information.
— Lisa Huddy
City of Upper Arlington
A very valuable tool in helping individuals with the seasonal mystery bugs!
— Richard Sorg
Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District
By all means, one of the most important sources of weekly information.
— Ron Wilson
William A. Natorp Co.
Keep up the growing degree days things – it is sinking in. THANK YOU!
— Susan Muenzer
Nilsson’s,
A Full Service Landscape Co.
Amy K. Stone, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County; and James A. Chatfield, Ohio State University Extension Center at Wooster, Horticulture and Crop Science.