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
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You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide
To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
🐝⚠️ Think that's a bee buzzing around your picnic? It might actually be a yellowjacket!
Despite their bee-like colors, yellowjackets are wasps, not bees. They have smooth, shiny bodies with very few hairs, a narrow waist, and bold yellow-and-black markings. Unlike our native bees, which are important pollinators and generally not aggressive, yellowjackets can become nuisance pests as they search for food.
🍔 Late summer and early fall are when yellowjackets are most noticeable. Workers are busy searching for sweets, meats, and other food sources, which is why they often show up at cookouts, outdoor events, and around trash cans.
🗑️ One of the best ways to reduce yellowjacket activity is through good sanitation:
• Keep trash can lids closed
• Clean up food and drink spills promptly
• Empty outdoor trash containers regularly
• Cover food when dining outdoors
Yellowjackets are beneficial predators that help control other insects, but they can become a problem when their food search brings them too close to people.
📖 Learn more about yellowjackets and management options:
www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/ENTO/ENTO-49/ENTO-49.html
📖 Learn more about large invasive hornets:
www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/ENTO/ento-592/ento-592.html ... See MoreSee Less
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Do you garden from a raised bed? Let us know in the comments below. 👇
If you want to learn more about using and creating your own raised beds head over here: www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/spes-425/spes-425.html ... See MoreSee Less
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⚠️ Poison Hemlock: Know What to Look For ⚠️
Poison hemlock is a common invasive plant found throughout Virginia, and it's important to be able to identify it, especially if you enjoy foraging or spending time outdoors.
This highly toxic member of the carrot family can grow 6–10 feet tall and has smooth green stems marked with distinctive purple or reddish spots or streaks. Its white flowers may resemble Queen Anne's lace, but poison hemlock is much larger and far more dangerous.
🌿 Where is it found?
Poison hemlock commonly grows along roadsides, fence rows, ditches, streambanks, and meadows.
☠️ Is it poisonous?
Yes, all parts of the plant are extremely toxic to people and animals. The plant contains poisonous compounds that can cause serious illness if ingested, and the sap may irritate the skin. Poisonings often occur when people mistake it for edible plants such as parsley, wild parsnip, or anise.
If you spot poison hemlock, admire it from a distance and avoid handling it without proper protection.
📖 Learn more about poisonous plants in Virginia:
www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/CNRE/CNRE-13/CNRE-13NP.html
📖 Learn more about poison hemlock:
extension.psu.edu/poison-hemlock ... See MoreSee Less
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