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
🌾 Straw or Hay? It Matters in the Garden! 🌱
Straw can be a great addition to the garden. It's commonly used for mulching, weed suppression, moisture retention, and even straw-bale gardening, where vegetables and herbs are grown directly in the bale. 🍅🥒
When purchasing bales for garden use, make sure you're getting straw, not hay. Hay is grown as animal feed and typically contains lots of seeds that can sprout throughout your garden. Straw, on the other hand, is made up mostly of stems and contains far fewer seeds.
🌾 Straw = stems, few seeds
🌱 Hay = animal feed, lots of seeds
Sometimes people use the terms interchangeably, so it never hurts to ask for clarification before you buy.
Interested in growing vegetables in straw bales? Learn more here:
extension.oregonstate.edu/news/straw-bales-offer-flexible-accessible-way-grow-vegetables-herbs?fb... ...
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You can be a part of our seed library! Help in giving out the next 10,000 packets of seed by making an Amazon Wishlist purchase at amzn.to/4c6zXkr or a donation at www.suffolkmastergardener.org/donate/ so we can start gearing up for 2027 seed starting.
If you can help with an Amazon Wishlist purchase, starting at only $5 for envelopes, or make a credit card, Venmo, or PayPal donation we can use to get more seed, you can help us fill some of the seed requests we've received. People shared what they'd like to grow as they picked up more than 8,400 packets with North Suffolk Library and thousands more through our Community Seed Swap and the Traveling Seed Library at the Suffolk Earth & Arts Festival, Pollinator Day, and Peanut Fest. We're also planning a second location in downtown Suffolk to open in 2027.
Thank you for your support of the Suffolk Seed Library, either through donations, using the seed library, or sharing about it. Donations made to Suffolk Master Gardener Association, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, may be tax deductible. Consult your tax professional.
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DISCLAIMER: Commercial products are named in this publication and in our wishlists for informational purposes only. Virginia Cooperative Extension does not endorse these products and does not intend discrimination against other products which also may be suitable.
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Image of a card catalog. On top is a brochure holder with paper material and pencils, a sign with the words Seed Library, Borrow, Grow, Collect, Share, a notebook, and what to plant this month information.
Image of a card catalog with open drawers holding seed packets, a brochure holder with paper material and pencils, a notebook, and what to plant this month information. Image contains words "Please Help Fill the Seed Library!" ...
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🔨 Garden DIY Projects 🌿
As some parts of the country are still enjoying the fall growing season, others are already wrapping things up and preparing for winter. It’s also a great time to think back on garden projects, or plan new ones for next year!
Have you tackled any fun DIY garden projects recently? Or maybe you’re looking for ideas to improve your growing space? 🌱
This simple trellis project from Dan Adler with University of Maryland Extension is a great example of what you can build with a few basic tools and a little creativity. Structures like this can make a big difference for climbing plants and help maximize your garden space. 🪴
📖 Check it out here:
bit.ly/3XrVzCa
Sometimes the best garden upgrades are the ones you build yourself! 🔧🌼 ...
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