The Urban Garden Center is more than a green oasis that calls to commuters as they drive through Pearl City. It’s a living classroom where community growers and gardeners can learn how to keep plants — and the environment — healthy and beautiful.
Hawaiʻi News Now put the UGC in the television spotlight when HI Now Daily host Rachel Pacarro joined Extension’s Alberto Ricordi for some backyard gardening tips. The news segment highlighted how UGC supports the Healthy Yard Care Program of the Honolulu City and County’s Dept. of Facility Maintenance, Storm Water Quality Division.
Alberto encouraged viewers to avoid planting invasive species, keep bare ground covered, and test soil to learn exactly how much fertilizer is right for your garden. Using too much fertilizer is a lose-lose approach, because it wastes money and also pollutes runoff.
“It’s very important to be mindful of what we do and what we don’t do in our yards,” he explains. “When you do soil testing, you know exactly what soil you have and what you need to do to make your soil healthy for your yard to thrive.”
Watch the full segment on HNN.