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
🌿 Did you know there are several different types of wetlands? 💧
When people think of wetlands, tidal salt marshes often come to mind, but wetlands actually include a wide variety of ecosystems, each with unique conditions and plant communities.
Here’s a quick overview:
🌾 Marshes
Frequently or continually flooded with water and dominated by soft-stemmed plants adapted to saturated soils. These can be freshwater or tidal salt marshes.
🌳 Swamps
Wetlands dominated by woody plants like trees and shrubs.
🟤 Bogs
Spongy, peat-rich wetlands with acidic water, often covered in thick mats of sphagnum moss.
🌱 Fens
Peat-forming wetlands that receive nutrients from groundwater and surrounding soils, making them less acidic and more nutrient-rich than bogs.
Each wetland type plays an important role in water filtration, wildlife habitat, and flood protection. 🌎
Learn more about wetland types here:
www.epa.gov/wetlands/classification-and-types-wetlands?fbclid=IwY2xjawSc8FhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkE... ...
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🌼 Chrysanthemum Care: More Than Just a Fall Favorite! 🌿
Though we often associate chrysanthemums (or “mums”) with autumn color, these versatile perennials can shine in the garden throughout the growing season. With hundreds of varieties available, they offer a wide range of bloom times, colors, heights, and flower forms, making them an easy way to add long-lasting interest to your landscape.
Mums perform best when they’re planted in full sun, in well-drained, fertile soil, and given consistent water and light feeding during the growing season. A little care goes a long way toward big blooms!
A few key tips for success:
🌱 Plant in spring when possible so roots can establish
✂️ Pinch plants back early to encourage fuller, bushier growth
🌸 Remove faded blooms to extend flowering
💧 Avoid overly wet conditions—good air circulation and drainage are essential
🌿 Divide every 3–5 years to keep plants vigorous
With the right timing and maintenance, mums can reward you with a long season of color and strong garden performance year after year.
For full planting instructions, seasonal care, propagation tips, and overwintering advice, read the full article from Penn State Extension:
👉 ...
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🍃 Have you ever looked closely at what’s inside a leaf? 🌿
As gardeners, we know leaves are where photosynthesis happens but the internal structure of a leaf is just as fascinating as what it does.
Starting on the outside, leaves are covered by a waxy layer called the cuticle, which helps reduce water loss. Some plants have thicker cuticles than others, especially those adapted to dry conditions.
Leaves also need to exchange gases. This happens through tiny openings called stomata, which allow carbon dioxide in and oxygen out. Most stomata are found on the underside of the leaf, helping reduce water loss from direct sun and wind exposure.
These openings are controlled by guard cells, which open and close the stomata depending on conditions like water availability.
Inside the leaf, the veins contain xylem and phloem, which move water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant. Surrounding these veins are specialized cells that carry out photosynthesis.
Leaves may look simple, but they’re actually highly organized structures working hard every day to keep plants alive. 🌱
Learn more here:
crowspath.org/natural-history/trees/leaves/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSc8KdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFYSXNzanRx... ...
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