Norfolk Master Gardeners

Working To Make A Better Environment

2024 Upcoming Events in South Hampton Roads





The NMG Spring Plant Sale for 2024 is just around the corner!

We are off to a Great Start. Next Up in The Good Gardening 2024 Series

at

Mary D Pretlow Anchor Branch Library

will begin March 20th. Please note the new time - 6:30PM

Topic

Sweet! Potatoes by the Bag

 

See the schedule for more details.

Norfolk’s Plant Hardiness Zone has changed with the new 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.


Plug in your zip code to see - all of Our Fair City is now in Zone 8B, with slightly warmer average winter temperatures as measured from 30 years of data. Zone boundaries for more than half the U.S. have changed in this map.


For us, this has implications for potentially longer growing seasons, weeds germinating earlier, and an increase in the number of insects. If only that translates to more pollinators!

As always, Norfolk Master Gardeners suggest that growers look for native species first. Plant Virginia Natives has links to important information about the long-term impact of these plants, which plants are invasive, where to buy natives, and the current Native Plants for Hampton Roads. This guide is available to download now, but a new edition is due out early next year. We look forward to seeing changes to the guide that may stem from the revised Hardiness Zones in our region.



  • Take a Moment to Listen to the newest source of information regarding the activities of the NMG.

Presenting: Garden Chats

New chat posted 3/11/2024


Urban Ag Team is Here For You

Need some help with a veggie garden? Or a pollinator garden, native plant garden or container garden? Are you a librarian or teacher and need help creating a teaching garden? Are you a civic leader or church interested in establishing a community garden? Or maybe a homeowner who would like to start a veggie garden, pollinator bed, native plant garden or container garden? Our Urban Ag Team can help with all of that by providing you with all of the gardening advice and education you need to be successful. We will come to your organization, and we even make house calls!

Contact us at norfolkvce.mg@gmail.com


You can now find the Lafayette Wetlands Partnership activities under the NMG Project Activity/LWP in the menu bar.

Looking for information about the Norfolk Master Gardener Program?

Check here...

Norfolk Gardening News!

Introducing a newsletter written by Norfolk Master Gardeners.

Subscribe to Let's Grow Together!

Speakers Bureau

Topics are updated regularly.

If you are looking for a topic, see the list of presentations.

It's January in Norfolk, Virginia. Check out the Planting Guide for Zone 8a .

(We are still waiting for the new guides that include the recent change to 8b).

The March This Month in the Garden is available for your reading enjoyment.


Here is a Guide from the VCE showing the best times of the year to prune your shrubs. 

Gardening With Gill and the Good Gardening At Home videos have a new home.

Soil Test Kits

Soil test kits are normally available to pick up free at the city library branches.  While the libraries are closed, Norfolk residents can request a kit: send name and USPS mailing address to vcenorfolk@vt.edu.  There is a $10 fee for the routine testing of your soil sample.  This is usually all the information needed to adequately correct your soil.  Instructions for collecting the soil sample and sending it to the VA Tech Soil Lab (along with payment) are on the form. 

For more information

The NMGs Crape Myrtle Pruning Project

was in Colonial Place

Residents of Colonial Place improved the appearance of their crape myrtles with

guidance and instruction

from the NMGs.


Here you see the before and after images.


For more information about this project, contact:

Paulette Crawford: Crawford27@cox.net or (757) 650-4129

Ginger Farrell: vafarrell@yahoo.com or (757) 972-5987

The Norfolk Master Gardener Association fosters communication, education, fellowship, and leadership among our members. The Association provides staffing, management and organization for approved Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener (VCE-MG) programs.

Ask the Extension Agent
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Agent for help
Find Utility Friendly Trees
Look Up, Virginia! A list of Utility friendly trees
Find an ISA Certified Arborist
International Society of Arboriculture
Norfolk Significant Trees
Database of Trees listed on the Norfolk Open Data Portal
Read the article about the Significant Tree Program.
The Virginian-Pilot: "Tall ones, wide ones, awe-inspiring ones: This list is for 'only the coolest' trees in our area."  
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