Master Gardener – Answers
Newly Answered Questions
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Speaker Request
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Date Posted: Thu, Jul 24 - 7:23 pm
- Hello. My alumnae organization is looking for a speaker for a zoom or possibly in-person meeting Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:00. We were thinking the topic could be planting native species but are open to suggestions. Thanks in advance for your response.
- Hello! Thank you so much for thinking of the Richmond Master Gardeners for this opportunity. We always enjoy getting the chance to share information about planting native! I'll follow up with an email to you to get a little more information and see what we can coordinate.
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Planting Natives in Yard
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Date Posted: Tue, Jul 22 - 10:05 am
- Hello! I moved into a new home in the past year and my yard is pretty much a blank slate. I love a flower-filled garden, but my yard is almost entirely shade due to an extraordinary, 100+ year old Tulip Poplar. Do you have any suggestions for flowers or colorful plants that would thrive in my shady yard? I am interested in keeping my yard native. Thank you!
- Hello Bethany! How exciting to have a yard that is a blank slate to fill with native plants! One resource I will share with you is https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-rva-natives This guide gives you a wealth of information about native plants and landscaping. I'll also reach out to you via e-mail to see if we can connect with you more to provide more specific recommendations.
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Extension Turf Grass program
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Date Posted: Fri, Jul 18 - 1:26 am
- Status of turf program. Sent in $45.00 In may/ june with no confirmation so far.
- Hello! The Richmond Master Gardeners are not connected with a turf program. And I'm not personally familiar with the city of Richmond offering one, especially since the city has been without an extension agent for the last several years. I would be curious to know what address you sent it to. I was able to find that Henrico does offer a program, but that it is unfortunately suspended this year: https://henrico.ext.vt.edu/programs/anr/smartlawns.html I can try to help you find a resolution. Please email RVAmastergardeners@gmail.com with the address you used and any other information you have available and I will see if I can help you get some answers. Thank you!
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Preparing new garden beds for planting
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Date Posted: Tue, Jul 15 - 10:50 pm
- I need to landscape front garden beds. what’s best to place on top of area for two months. Are tarps weighed down w/bricks okay? Arborist chips clean? I’m old so I want something easy/low maintenance. Planning on native perennials and grasses, a few shrubs/service berry.
- Thank you for your question! It sounds like you're off to a great start with a thoughtful plan for a low-maintenance, native landscape. Both of the options you suggested are great ideas for prepping your beds for planting. 1. Tarps: Yes, tarps weighed down with bricks or secured with lawn staples can work well to smother weeds and prevent new growth before planting. This method is known as "occultation." It’s easy, effective, and doesn't require much labor. Just make sure the tarp is opaque and tightly secured to prevent wind from getting underneath. I have personally had success with using black plastic and lawn staples, and am able to re-use the black plastic when I'm ready to expand the garden. 2. Arborist Wood Chips: Fresh arborist chips are also a great option, especially for a native planting. They help suppress weeds, retain moisture, and gradually improve soil as they break down. It’s fine to apply them now even if they’re “green” (fresh)—just keep them 3–6 inches deep and avoid piling them right against any existing stems or trunks. You can combine both methods too: tarp the area now, then remove the tarp and add arborist chips once you’re ready to plant. Native perennials, grasses, and a few shrubs like serviceberry are perfect choices for a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly garden. Once established, they should need minimal watering and upkeep. Happy gardening!
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Pruning limelight hydrangeas
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Date Posted: Tue, Jul 15 - 10:37 pm
- I read that hydrangea blossoms need to be cut by the end of July or the plant won’t blossom next year. I have a limelight hydrangea. Is that true?
- Thanks for reaching out! That advice applies only to hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, like bigleaf (macrophylla) or oakleaf (quercifolia) varieties. These set their flower buds in late summer or early fall, so pruning late removes next year’s blossoms. But Limelight hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’) is a panicle hydrangea, which blooms on new wood—the current year’s growth For limelight hydrangeas, we recommend pruning in late winter or early spring, before new buds emerge. You can prune again in fall or winter to remove dead wood and shape the plant. It is not necessary that you prune your limelight by the end of July - you can continue to enjoy blossoms through the summer!
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Home Consult
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Date Posted: Mon, Jul 14 - 12:43 am
- Hi there! I am a first time homeowner trying to get a handle on our front and backyard. The previous owner was an arborist and master of the craft and I am doing my best to keep the garden afloat but I think I need some guidance! I would so love if someone could come out to help advise. Is that possible?
- Hi Athena, Thank you so much for reaching out to the Master Gardeners. How wonderful to have an established garden come with your new home! I will send you an email to get more information about the neighborhood you are in and what is currently growing in your garden so that I connect you with a Master Gardener. Keep an eye out for an e-mail from us!
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Pruning Oakleaf Hydrangeas
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Date Posted: Fri, Jul 11 - 12:54 am
- I have an oakleaf hydrangea that has grown too large for its spot in my yard here in Richmond. When is the best time to cut it back and should I cut its branches close to the trunk? Can it be encouraged to grow more vertically and not spread out horizontally?
- Thank you for your question about your oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)! I frequently walk past the ones Maymont has in their parking lot at the nature center and am always admiring how beautiful they are but they can indeed outgrow their space over time. Timing: The best time to prune oakleaf hydrangeas is shortly after they finish blooming, typically in late June through early August here in Richmond. These shrubs bloom on old wood, meaning they form next year’s flower buds on stems grown the previous year. Pruning in late summer or fall will likely remove those buds and reduce flowering the following year. How to prune: Avoid cutting branches all the way back to the trunk. Instead, remove about 1/3 of the oldest, thickest stems at the base to encourage new growth and improve shape. You can also shorten some of the remaining stems to reduce overall size and guide the shape—just make cuts back to a bud or side branch. Encouraging vertical growth: Oakleaf hydrangeas naturally have a broad, spreading habit. While you can’t dramatically change this growth pattern, you can encourage a more upright form by thinning out wide-angled branches and encouraging vertical shoots, selectively removing outward-growing stems to reduce width, and/or using light staking or support for young vertical stems if needed (though this is more effective in younger plants). If the space is truly too small for the mature size of your shrub, long-term, you might consider relocating it in the fall or early spring when it’s dormant. Good luck and happy gardening!
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Indoor Bamboo
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Date Posted: Thu, Jul 10 - 12:16 am
- My bamboo leaves has brown tips. It is potted inside my home in dirt. It's not in direct sunlight and I water once every other week. I wonder if the tap water had too much fluoride. Please advise.
- Thank you for your question about your indoor bamboo plant! Brown tips on bamboo leaves are a common issue and can result from a few different factors. Based on your description, here are some possibilities to consider: 1. Water Quality (Fluoride or Chlorine) You're right to wonder about your tap water—bamboo can be sensitive to fluoride, chlorine, and other chemicals commonly found in municipal water. Over time, these can build up in the soil and damage the leaf tips. To help with this: Try using distilled water, rainwater, or water that has been left to sit out for 24–48 hours (which allows chlorine to dissipate). You can also occasionally flush the soil with clean, non-fluoridated water to help remove any buildup. 2. Low Humidity Indoor air—especially with heating or AC—can be quite dry. Bamboo prefers higher humidity levels. Mist your plant regularly or place a shallow tray of water and pebbles beneath the pot to increase humidity. Grouping plants together can also raise the local humidity level. 3. Underwatering Watering once every other week may not be enough, depending on your home's temperature, humidity, and the plant's container size. Brown tips can be a sign of inconsistent moisture. Try checking the soil weekly. If the top inch is dry, it's time to water. Bamboo likes consistently moist (but not soggy) soil. 4. Light Levels While bamboo doesn't need direct sunlight, it does need bright, indirect light to thrive. If your plant is in a very low-light spot, consider moving it closer to a window with filtered light. 5. Salt or Fertilizer Buildup Over time, salts from tap water or fertilizer can accumulate in the soil and damage roots. If you've been fertilizing, consider cutting back and flushing the soil with clean water occasionally. Hope these ideas will help you out!
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Bitterness in Cucumbers
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Date Posted: Tue, Jul 01 - 1:28 am
- I'm growing cucumbers for the first time this year, and so far have only harvested a few. They are heirloom straight 8 cucumbers I started from seed. I'm harvesting them at about 6 inches long. I cut the ends off when I slice them to avoid bitterness, but they still seem to taste quite bitter and soapy. I'm not spraying them with anything, and I was them well with water when I harvest them. What might be making them bitter?
- Thanks for reaching out to the Richmond Master Gardeners! Bitterness in cucumbers—especially heirloom varieties like Straight 8—is a fairly common issue, although frustrating, and it’s usually due to the natural compounds called cucurbitacins. A few reasons you might be experiencing bitterness: First off, we have to think about environmental stress, especially given the extreme heat and big down pours we have been having. Cucurbitacin levels tend to rise when the plants are under stress and common stressors for cucumbers include: Inconsistent watering (periods of drought followed by heavy watering), high temperatures, and also poor soil fertility or nutrient imbalance. Straight 8 cucumbers tend to be prone to bitterness, especially in hot and dry conditions. Try to keep soil moisture even by watering regularly (especially during hot spells), and consider using mulch to conserve moisture and keep soil temps steady. There's a chance your cucumbers are sitting on the vine a little too long and getting a little overripe. If you notice any yellowing of the skin or a hard waxy exterior, they are likely getting a little too ripe. You could try harvesting a little sooner, maybe when they are 5 inches, to see if that helps. As you already seem to know, the bitter components are most concentrated at the the stem end, in the skin and just under the skin. In addition to trimming the end of off, you could try peeling the cucumbers. I've also heard of people soaking them in cold salted water for about 40 minutes once they are peeled. I haven't tried this myself, but I've heard it helps to reduce the bitterness. Their are some hybrid varieties that are bred to reduce bitterness. If none of the above ideas help you to reduce bitterness, you could try growing a hybrid variety next time and see if that helps. Good luck! We hope you are able to enjoy your cucumbers!
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Gardening Memorial
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Date Posted: Sat, Jun 21 - 9:46 pm
- My other recently died in Richmond. She was a lifelong gardener and member of Lewis Ginter botanical gardens. We her children would like to donate to a local project that would provide gardening access to kids and/or people with limited means or perhaps to a gardening section in the Richmond Public Library system. Lewis Ginter is only accepting contributions not something more tangible or lasting. Do you have any suggestions?
- Steven, I'm very sorry about your mother's passing. You all have a very thoughtful idea to honor her love of gardening and the Richmond community through a gift on her behalf. I'm happy to connect with you to share some ideas that I'm aware of and see is any of those resonate with what you all are looking for. I'll follow up with an email to connect more.