Welcome to
Suffolk Extension Master Gardeners
We Exist to Serve You
The Suffolk Extension Master Gardeners (Suffolk EMGs) are proud residents of the City of Suffolk, VA who volunteer their time and expertise, to provide FREE horticultural resources for the residents of the City of Suffolk. Resources concerning tree care, native plants, flower gardening, vegetable gardening, pest and disease identification and management are just a few of the topics we can assist you with! We also maintain gardens all over the City of Suffolk where we conduct educational programs, guided tours, and other events.
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.
SMG 2025 Plant Sale Information
Earth & Arts Festival
04/26/25 Click Here for More Information
SMG Rain Barrel Sale! Going on Now!
Preorder Your Pre-assembled Rain Barrel Today! Click Here for more information
Spotted Lanterfly Information
Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly Identification
and Reporting in Virginia
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🌿 Grow Flavor & Beauty with Herbs! 🌿
Transform your space with homegrown herbs! Plant sun-loving basil for pesto, fragrant lavender for pollinators, or hardy rosemary for roasts. Herbs thrive in sunny spots with well-draining soil—raised beds or pots (looking at you, mint 🌱) work great. Drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, they’re perfect for beginners!
✂️ Harvest & Share ✂️
Snip herbs in the morning for peak flavor—dry them in bundles or use fresh. Share cuttings with friends or pair with flowers for stunning arrangements! Tag a gardening pal and drop your fave herb below: basil 🌱 or lavender 💜?
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#GrowYourOwn #HerbGardenMagic #SustainableLiving
🌿 Suffolk Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale—Your Garden’s Best Day Out! 🌿
Mark your calendars for April 26, 2025!
The Suffolk Master Gardeners are bringing their biggest plant sale yet to the Suffolk Earth & Arts Festival on Historic Downtown Main Street. Discover a treasure trove of vibrant annuals, hardy perennials, native plants, and expert-grown herbs—perfect for spring gardening! 🌸🌱 Not just a sale, this is a gardening hub: purchase a rain barrel, snag pro tips from Master Gardeners, and learn how to create pollinator-friendly spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a budding gardener, we’ve got your soil covered! 618
📍 When & Where
🗓️ Saturday, April 26, 2025 | ⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM
🌳 Historic Downtown Suffolk, 100-200 blocks of N. Main Street
🍴 Ready to sprout?
What’s your go-to way to use sprouts? Drop a 🥗 below with your salad or 🥪 for sandwich ideas. Let’s grow together!
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-419/426-419.html
#HomegrownNutrition #SproutSmart #HealthyEating #GardenToTable #ZeroWasteKitchen
Have you seen any of the viral post going around claiming that "creeping thyme" can replace grass? Well before you go changing up your lawn take a look at this article to find out the true about this! 👇Posts claiming that "creeping thyme" can replace grass are making the rounds again.
There are plenty of ways to reduce your lawn and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators--but unfortunately none of them are as simple as a 1:1 swap of grass for a specific plant. Also, many of these posts include a photo of what is actually phlox.
While viral posts about "creeping thyme" make it seem easy to replace your lawn with a flowering groundcover, the reality is much different. Groundcovers will have different nutrient needs than grass, do not establish themselves in the same way, have different maintenance needs (weeding!), and will not respond yard traffic the way grass does. Thymes are also very intolerant of wet soil and shade.
Here is a great guide to lawn alternatives: extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-alternatives/
More info on thymes:
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thymus-praecox/
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thymus-serpyllum/
Image text: Creeping Thyme
Cultivars of Thymus serpyllum or Thymus praecox - Not native to North America
Does “creep” or spread
Not used as a culinary herb.
Creeping Phlox
Cultivars of Phlox subulata, OR Phlox stolonifera. Both are native to the Eastern US.
Does “creep” or spread
Very hardy, common, and easy to buy ... See MoreSee Less
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Want to keep pests at bay without relying only on pesticides? With a little planning and the right techniques, you can protect your garden without an over-abundance of chemical additions.
✅ Start with the soil - begin with well-prepared soil that supports beneficial organisms.
✅ Choose wisely - Select pest-resistant plant varieties and rotate crops to break pest cycles.
✅ Time it right - Plant strategically to avoid peak pest seasons.
✅ Keep it clean - Remove crop residue, weeds, and decaying plants that harbor pests.
✅ Use nature’s helpers - Encourage beneficial insects, birds, and natural predators.
✅ Try mechanical methods - Handpick pests, set traps, and use barriers to protect plants.
With these controls, you can reduce pesticide use and cultivate a productive garden. 🌱✨
Read our #VCEPub for more information ➡️ ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you, Suffolk News Herald for the article about our new seed library with Suffolk Public Library! We soft launched last week so we can work out any “bugs” as we get it up and running. Feedback from seed borrowers has been overwhelmingly positive, and in the first week almost 200 packets of seed were taken home to grow by members of our community! Stay turned for more details in the coming weeks...
www.suffolknewsherald.com/2025/03/27/new-seed-library-blossoms-at-north-suffolk-library/
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If you have a passion for learning and helping others, we want you as a City of Suffolk VCE Master Gardener! Subscribe to our email list to learn about our next training class (August - November 2025) at bit.ly/suffolklist, or check back here for updates. We'll have more details in about a week. We're excited to welcome more volunteers to our group!
Virginia Cooperative Extension-City of Suffolk Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program ... See MoreSee Less
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