Welcome to
Suffolk Extension Master Gardeners
We Exist to Serve You
Suffolk Extension Master Gardeners (Suffolk EMGs) volunteer their time and expertise to provide FREE horticultural education for residents of the City of Suffolk, Virginia. They provide programs for both youth and adults on a variety of topics like tree care, native plants, flower and vegetable gardening, pest and disease identification, integrated pest management, and more. Visit the programs, events, and demonstration garden pages to learn more!
Ask a Master Gardener
Getting help is easy! Suffolk EMGs can be found at our office, on Facebook, by phone, email, and at various Suffolk farmers markets. Take advantage of our Ask a Master Gardener program, where you can contact us from the comfort of your own home! To submit a question, email us at SuffolkMG@gmail.com or call us at 757-514-4335. When emailing, attach pictures of the plant, pest, or problem and provide a detailed description. This will allow us to serve you. A Suffolk EMG volunteer will respond in a timely manner. Beginning in 2024, volunteers will be providing monthly office hours. Stop by our Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) classroom and obtain research-based assistance with your gardening questions and concerns.
Spotted Lanterfly Information
Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly Identification
and Reporting in Virginia
🌿 Underrated Beneficial Arthropods in the Garden 🐝🪲
Not all “bugs” in the garden are pests—in fact, many play important roles that often go unnoticed or underappreciated. Abiya Saeed, Extension Horticulture Specialist at Montana State University, highlights three key groups of beneficial arthropods that quietly support healthy ecosystems:
🌸 Part 1: Pollinators – Bees, flies, butterflies, and other insects that help keep our gardens and food systems thriving by moving pollen between flowers.
🪲 Part 2: Natural Enemies – Predators and parasites that help keep pest populations in check without chemicals.
🍂 Part 3: Nutrient Cyclers – Decomposers that break down organic matter and return nutrients back to the soil.
Together, these often-overlooked helpers are essential for a balanced, healthy garden ecosystem. 🌱
📖 Explore the full series here:
• Part 1 – Pollinators: gardenprofessors.com/underrated-beneficial-arthropods-part-1-pollinators/
• Part 2 – Natural Enemies: gardenprofessors.com/underrated-beneficial-arthropods-part-2-natural-enemies/
• Part 3 – Nutrient Cyclers: gardenprofessors.com/underrated-beneficial-arthropods-part-3-nutrient-cyclers/
A great reminder that not every insect in the garden is a problem—many are part of the solution! 🌼 ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🪱 Seen posts about “toxic” hammerhead worms? Here’s what you should know.
Hammerhead worms (Bipalium spp.) do produce a toxin in their mucus to subdue prey, but they cannot bite, sting, or inject toxins into people. The risk to humans and pets is very low and usually only a concern if mucus gets in the mouth or eyes.
🔍 What they look like:
These flatworms have a shovel- or hammer-shaped head, a yellow-brown striped body, and can grow over a foot long.
📍 Where they’re found:
Originally from Asia, they’re now seen across much of the eastern U.S. They prefer moist environments like mulch, leaf litter, and garden beds where earthworms are present.
⚠️ What to do if you find one:
• Wear gloves and avoid touching directly
• Do NOT cut it (it can regenerate)
• Place it in a sealed container and kill it (salt, soapy water, hand sanitizer, sunlight, or freezing)
• Wash hands afterward
🐾 If a pet eats one, contact your veterinarian if symptoms develop.
🌿 Experts also recommend not using broad treatments like salt or pesticides across your yard, since they can harm beneficial organisms. Handle sightings individually instead.
📌 No need to report sightings in Virginia. ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are happy to welcome 13 VCE Master Gardener Trainees as part of the 2026 - 2027 training class! Over the course of 27 lectures, labs, or field trips, they'll learn how to be a trusted resource to Virginia's home gardeners on a wide range of horticulture topics. We look forward to volunteering with Dexter, James, Page, Kim, Nancy, Suzanne, Carolyn, Melissa, Kate J, Kate D, Lindsey, Heather, and Keith.
You'll get a peek into the program over the next few months, and we'll share photos from past years' classes, too. If what you see and learn interests you, the Suffolk VCE Master Gardener volunteer program may be for you! Let us know at forms.gle/LG8dahisPMmPzopP8 or sign up for our email list at bit.ly/suffolklist if you'd like to be contacted for the 2027 training.
Photo description: group of 13 smiling people in front of a white wall.
Photo text: Welcome to the Suffolk VCE Master Gardener Training Class of 2026 - 2027!
Virginia Cooperative Extension Logo
Virginia Tech
Virginia State University
Extension Master Gardeners Suffolk Logo
With Virginia Cooperative Extension-City of Suffolk ...
11 CommentsComment on Facebook