Master Gardener – Search
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Becoming a Master Gardener
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Date Posted: Thu, May 15 - 8:53 pm
- I'd like to sign up to take the Master Gardener classes. Can you tell me who to contact to get on the registration list? Thank you! Best, Marie
- Hi Marie! We are very excited to hear about your interest in becoming a Master Gardener! I will follow up with an email so that we can get you on the list when application information is available.
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Crimson Queen Japanese Maple
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Date Posted: Mon, May 05 - 1:44 am
- Hello, I recently purchased a Crimson Queen Japanese Maple (https://tinyurl.com/5hfc8k8p) and am considering planting it in my backyard, which gets a good balance of both sunlight and shade throughout the day. The location I'm considering is a minimum distance of 5' 8.5" from the patio retaining wall and a maximum distance of 8' 4" from the corner of the house where the foundation begins. I'm wondering if this distance is far enough away from the patio and the house. I've read quite a few different recommendations online, ranging between 3 and 10 feet, and it has me wondering if my distances are safe enough to prevent any damage to the patio and/or the house once the tree becomes more mature. I've attached a picture that shows the tree's distance from the patio and the house corner I mentioned earlier. If you could provide any other general info about tree planting specific to Japanese Maples, I'd really appreciate it, as this is the first one I've ever planted. Thanks for your help!
- Thank you for your question about planting your Japanese Maple! And thank you for your patience while we connected with our team to get a good answer for you. In general, our master gardeners typically recommend planting any tree at least 12 feet away from the house. Japanese Maples tend to grow their most attractive, rounded shape when they receive balanced sunlight from all sides. If one side is shaded, the tree can develop unevenly over time, with less foliage and an asymmetrical form. One of our gardeners has a tree that this has happened to —it receives more sunlight on one side, so it has a slightly lopsided look compared to the beautiful full shape seen in the photo you shared. We hope this helps as you make decisions about where you will plant your tree and that you will enjoy it for many many years to come!
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Converting Lawn to natives
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Date Posted: Sat, Apr 26 - 9:39 pm
- I saw in some other responses that the Master Gardener applications started last September and have since closed. Could I be added to the list to receive information when it becomes available again?! I was also curious if y'all had any suggestions for building a grass yard with native grasses and fewer 'weeds.' Would poverty grass be an option? I rent currently, but I don't want that to stop us from building a home that supports native biodiversity!! Thank you so much! :)
- Thanks so much for reaching out—and big kudos to you for wanting to support native biodiversity, even as a renter. Creating a lawn or greenspace with native grasses is a fantastic way to help pollinators, improve soil health, and reduce maintenance and chemical inputs. You're right to consider poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata)—it’s a great native grass for our region! It’s clump-forming, drought-tolerant, and performs well in poor soils, which makes it an excellent choice for naturalized lawn areas. However, it doesn’t behave quite like traditional turf—it grows in tufts, so you may want to pair it with other species for fuller coverage. While none of these will act quite like turf grass, here are a couple of others you could consider: Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus) – Grows well in part shade and moist soils. Tolerates mowing, though it’s bunch-forming. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Gorgeous color and structure, though not turf-like. Best for meadows and border plantings. I love mixing this one into flower beds for beautiful color pops! Purpletop (Tridens flavus) – Soft and airy with a lovely purple seed head; adds diversity and texture. River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) – A beautiful grass for partly shaded areas, but it can spread aggressively. Personally, I love growing this grass in pots and listening to the oats rustle in the wind! (That being said, another great way to add more natives, especially as a renter is to grow them in pots!) This one will be much stalkier than normal turf grass. For a lawn substitute, you could also consider Carex species (native sedges), which resemble turf when mowed and tolerate partial shade: carex crinita and carex vulpinoidea are a couple that typically do well in our area. Hope this helps get you on the path you are looking to be on! And I'll send you an email to follow up about being on the list for information about our next class!
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Apple Tree - Fire blight?
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Date Posted: Fri, Apr 25 - 12:57 am
- I am hoping to diagnose if my apple tree has fire blight. I have uploaded one picture but have several more I am not able to upload. The tree is a multi variety grafted tree. I have cut below the suspected ends 4-8” with pruners sterilized with rubbing alcohol. Is it also possible to have a Master Gardener visit our garden at any point in the future this year?
- Thanks so much for reaching out to us for help with your apple tree. I will send you a follow up email so that we can get the rest of your pictures as well as some information about where you live and what you are looking for from a home visit so that we can see what we can coordinate for you.
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Master Gardener Class
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Date Posted: Tue, Apr 22 - 12:09 am
- Hi! I see the master gardener courses have filled for the year. I would very much enjoy completing this course as well. Could I be added to the list if a fall course opens? Thanks!
- Thanks so much for your interest in the Master Gardener program! I will follow up with an email to you so that we can get you on the list for information when it is available.
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Winter-Damaged Shrub: Signs of Life or Time to Replace?
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Date Posted: Sat, Apr 12 - 12:48 pm
- Can I get some assistance regarding a shrub that died during the winter. It has turned completely yellow. Referred to you by Krissie Vandenburg
- Thanks for reaching out to the Master Gardener Help Desk. We’re sorry to hear about your shrub—it can be frustrating to lose a plant, especially after a tough winter. A shrub turning completely yellow could be a sign of several things, including: Winter injury (cold damage to roots or stems), Poor drainage or root rot, Nutrient deficiency or stress from transplanting, Natural leaf drop on an evergreen that might still recover To better assist you, could you let us know: What type of shrub it is (if known)? When it was planted? Whether it’s evergreen or deciduous? And if possible, could you send us a clear photo of the entire plant, as well as a close-up of the leaves and stems? In the meantime, you can check for life by gently scratching a small section of bark with your fingernail—if it’s green underneath, there may still be hope. Also, look at the base of the plant and stems for any signs of new growth. We’d be happy to help you troubleshoot and determine whether the shrub might recover or if it's time to replace it. Send us an email at RVAmastergardeners@gmail.com with answers to the above questions and we'll do our best to provide more guidance!
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Creating Privacy Screen with Natives
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Date Posted: Mon, Mar 31 - 5:07 pm
- I am finally removing the Japanese privet and coral ardisia that has been growing along our wrap-around porch for 15+ years. What native trees or shrubs would be a good replacement? They'll be on the north side of the house in the shade of a large holly tree, and we'd like them to provide a visual block from a busy road.
- We love to hear that you are planning to plant more natives in your yard! Since your planting site is on the north side of the house and shaded by a large holly tree, the soil is likely to stay on the drier side due to root competition and limited rainfall reaching the ground. Here are some ideas of excellent natives that help create a screen to help get you started: Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera): will create a nice evergreen hedge which might be appropriate for the first 10 feet of the screen. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana): this will create a fairly dense privacy screen. There are dwarf varieties available so you don’t have to contend with the potential of 40 ft tall screen. You could also consider incorporating some flowering plants along the line of evergreens , or plant in front of the hedge: Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia): A non deciduous small tree that would add color and fruit for wildlife. Coastal Plain Service-berry (Amelanchier obovalis): A multiple-trunk tree or shrub, 12 to 25 feet tall. I would also recommend taking a look over these resources, as they may help you pick out plants that are better suited for your particular space and preferences: Plant RVA Natives: https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-rva-natives Virginia Native Plant Society: https://vnps.org/ Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora: https://vaplantatlas.org/
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Community/Citizen Science Day
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Date Posted: Thu, Mar 27 - 12:30 am
- I am the librarian at Albert Hill Middle School, and I would like to have a Master Gardener from RVA participate in our 1st annual Community/Citizen Science Day. The event will be from 8:30 to 2:30 in the library. The event is designed to show students how people and organizations in our community are using science to make our world a better place to live and to give them a taste of what it might be like to work or volunteer in these types of endeavors. While at Matoaca H.S., in Chesterfield County, I held two very successful events, one in which a master gardener from Chesterfield participated. She brought in a worm garden, which was a big hit with the kids. Each participating organization will have a space in the library where they can mount a display and, if possible, provide some type of interactive component for the students. Although I can't pay you for your efforts, I will provide lunch for all participating organizations. I hope you can join us for what I know will be a great event. Sincerely, Dale
- Hi Dale! Thanks so much for reaching out to the Master Gardeners about this awesome opportunity! We will follow up with you directly via e-mail to see what we can coordinate.
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Demonstration Class for Seniors
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Date Posted: Thu, Mar 27 - 12:29 am
- Hello! My name is Felicia Hernandez, and I am the coordinator for the Aging Strong Program at the Northside YMCA of Greater Richmond! I wanted to know if you had any time this month to demo a class at our location for our senior attendants. The class size ranges from around 8 to 14 people, for reference. Let me know if you have any questions for me. Thank you so much for reading, and home you have a good day!
- Hi Felicia! Thanks so much for reaching out to the Master Gardeners about this awesome opportunity! We will follow up with you directly via e-mail to see what we can coordinate.
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Soil Testing
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Date Posted: Mon, Mar 17 - 4:26 pm
- Can I bring a sample of my yard soil to the Extension office to be tested for heavy metals, etc.?
- This is a great question! Soil Test Kits are provided by the extension office and the Master Gardeners distribute them to the Richmond Public Libraries. We actually just got some in that we will be distributing this week! Each kit provides instructions for collecting and submitting the samples. Results are then emailed to you, typically within 3 working days of receipt. The routine test package includes soil pH,P,K,Ca,Mg,Zn,Mn,Cu,Fe,B, and estimated CEC, plus a fertilizer and lime recommendation. Testing for soluble salts and organic matter is also available. If you are looking for a way to test for the toxic heavy metals or metals related to pollution issues, send us an email at rvamastergardeners@gmail.com For this type of testing, Virginia Tech recommends connecting with your local extension agent. The City of Richmond has been without an extension agent for several years now, but we will try to get you connected to the appropriate people if this is the type of testing you are looking for.