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
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We’re looking forward to meeting prospective new Master Gardener Volunteers tomorrow at 6:00! You can still register to join an information session and learn more about volunteering and expectations, get your questions answered, and meet some of our volunteers. Register at https://forms.gle/qLUrtyTzGmnAv9Xy9.
This year’s training fits into busy lives with only 3-5 in-person commitments per month.
Basic details:
- Training runs September 16, 2026 - March 10, 2027 with 6+ weeks off over for holidays.
- Meets Wednesdays at VCE from 6 - 8:30pm.
- Meets one Saturday each month for a field trip/lab from 9 - noon.
- Training pauses for Veterans Day, two weeks at Thanksgiving, and four weeks early December to early January.
- $195 cost includes:
- $82 Suffolk course fee,
- $100 state program fee, and
- $13 state background screening fee.
Some scholarship funds may be available.
See a PDF of this flyer at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F_nAQymtTLisdlL6oP-1yyu2ko7mk5sA/view?usp=sharing.
While we hope you can join us in person so you can chat with us, if you cannot make May 6th, a portion will be recorded and available by Zoom on May 16th. Register for either date at https://forms.gle/qLUrtyTzGmnAv9Xy9.
The full class schedule will be available and application link will be provided at the information session. Application period ends May 31st.
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Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.
If you are a person with a disability and desire assistance or accommodation, please contact Andrea Slye, VCE City of Suffolk, at 757-514-4337 during business hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
🌳 Love a Tree Day! 🌳
Trees do so much for us, often without us even noticing.
Here are just a few of the benefits of trees:
🌳 Provide shade and reduce energy costs
🌳 Improve air quality
🌳 Support wildlife
🌳 Help manage stormwater
Here is a tip to keep those trees in your yard healthy:
Mulch in a wide ring around the base, but keep it away from the trunk (no mulch volcanoes!).
Planting and caring for trees is one of the most impactful things we can do for our environment.
Here is a great guide to common native trees of Virginia: blandy.virginia.edu/sites/blandy.as.virginia.edu/files/2023-11/Common-Native-Trees-ID_pub.pdf
💬 What’s your favorite Virginia Native tree? ... See MoreSee Less
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🌿 Endangered Species Day 🌿
Today is a reminder that conservation isn’t just about animals, plants need protection too.
In Virginia, several plant species are considered rare or endangered, including:
🌿 Small whorled pogonia (a native orchid)
🌿 Virginia round-leaf birch
🌿 Seabeach amaranth
Why it matters:
Plants form the foundation of ecosystems. When plant species disappear, entire habitats and the wildlife that depend on them can be affected.
🌿 How gardeners can help:
• Plant native species
• Avoid invasive plants
• Support habitat conservation
• Learn about local ecosystems
💬 Have you ever seen a rare or native plant in the wild? ... See MoreSee Less
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21 years of Ready, Set, Grow! If you or someone you know came home with a potted sunflower seed/seedling in 1st grade in the City of Suffolk, it was probably through this Virginia Cooperative Extension-City of Suffolk Master Gardener program. In 2026 and most other years, over 1,000 children planted a sunflower seed and learned with our volunteers who reinforce standards of learning around what plants need to grow using "Oh Say Can You Seed? All About Flowering Plants." Here are a few photos over the years, some including the training class of 2025! Plus a nice thank you note received yesterday.
And if YOU want to help teach our youngest gardeners, register for tomorrow's Zoom webinar to learn more and see our flyer with class details at forms.gle/qLUrtyTzGmnAv9Xy9. ... See MoreSee Less
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