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
🍂 Fall Lawn Care: Set Your Lawn Up for Spring Success 🌱
Fall isn’t just a season for leaves, it’s one of the most important times of year for lawn care. According to Virginia Tech Extension specialists, what you do now has a big impact on how healthy and dense your lawn will be next spring.
Cooler temperatures and more consistent moisture create ideal conditions for establishing or repairing cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. This is also the best time to seed, overseed, or install sod for long-term success.
A few key fall lawn care priorities:
🌱 Test your soil first
Knowing your soil pH and nutrient levels helps guide everything from lime to fertilizer decisions.
🌿 Seed and overseed in early fall
Warm soil + cool air = excellent germination and strong root development.
💧 Water wisely
Keep newly seeded areas consistently moist (not soggy), then gradually reduce watering as roots develop deeper.
✂️ Mow correctly
Follow the “one-third rule”—never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.
🍁 Feed at the right time
Fall is the ideal season for nitrogen applications that support root growth, density, and winter hardiness.
🌾 Manage weeds early
A thick, well-established lawn is the best defense against winter annual weeds like annual bluegrass.
For warm-season lawns, fall care looks a little different, focusing on light fertilization, weed management, and preparing for dormancy.
Taking the right steps now means fewer problems and a healthier, greener lawn next year.
📖 Read the full Virginia Cooperative Extension guide here:
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We're back at Suffolk Peanut Fest today! Come visit the Traveling Seed Library, learn about one of our newest invasive insects, find out how to become a volunteer, or ask gardening questions. We're in the family area. Look for the Virginia Cooperative Extension-City of Suffolk tents with Suffolk 4H Youth . We look forward to seeing you there!
Images are of groups of two to four people wearing Master Gardener shirts and standing behind a table under a tent.
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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 any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Suffolk VCE Office at 757-514-4330/TDD* during business hours of 8:30a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120. ...
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Like to talk about insects? So do we! Join us now at Virginia Cooperative Extension's 2026 Southeast Virginia Hokie Bugfest!! Today, October 10, 2026, from 10:00am-2:00pm at the Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321.
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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 any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Suffolk VCE Office at 757-514-4330/TDD* during business hours of 8:30a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120. ...
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