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Identifying Moles and Voles

Identifying Moles and Voles

  • July 17, 2023
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Question: How do I tell moles from voles and determine which of these pests is damaging my lawn or garden? Moles and voles are often confused with each other but their appearance, diet and behavior are quite different. Adult moles…

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Straw vs. Hay as Mulch

Straw vs. Hay as Mulch

  • June 27, 2023
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Question: I need to mulch my vegetable garden.  What is the difference between straw and hay?  This is a frequently asked question, as folks tend to “intertwine” the two names loosely. They’ll say, “We’re going on a hayride,” when in…

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Timing of Pruning Oak Trees

Timing of Pruning Oak Trees

  • May 11, 2023
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Question: I’ve heard that pruning oaks in spring and summer is not recommended. Why? Pruning oak trees during the growing season exposes them to a high probability of contracting oak wilt. Caused by a fungus (Bretziella fagacearum), oak wilt disease…

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Alternatives to Burning Bush

Alternatives to Burning Bush

  • September 29, 2022
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Question: The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a bush of choice in many neighborhoods. I’ve heard that I shouldn’t plant it because it’s invasive. Why and what are some alternatives? With its striking bright red or purplish fall foliage, red…

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Pruning Rosemary and Lavender

Pruning Rosemary and Lavender

  • July 21, 2022
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Question: I have some rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp’) and English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’), which have some dead stems and branches, perhaps due to the harsh winter weather.  About half of the stems are affected.  Will they come back?  Should…

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Understanding Organic Gardening

Understanding Organic Gardening

  • June 3, 2022
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Question: What is Organic Gardening? Many of us are interested in organic gardening as a way to produce healthy fruits and vegetables in an environmentally responsible way. Definitions of this type of gardening vary but are all based on the…

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Searching for Spring Ephemerals

Searching for Spring Ephemerals

  • March 25, 2022
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Question: When and where do I go to find spring ephemerals and can I grow them in my garden?  Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Spring ephemerals are flowering plants that emerge from the forest floor in late winter or early spring…

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Buttonbush: 2022 Virginia Wildflower of the Year

Buttonbush: 2022 Virginia Wildflower of the Year

  • March 2, 2022
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Question: What kind of flowering shrub would you recommend for a sunny, low lying wet area bordering my yard? A Beautiful Plant for Wet Areas One shrub that comes to mind is Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), also known as button ball,…

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Controlling Tree-of-Heaven

Controlling Tree-of-Heaven

  • February 2, 2022
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Question: A friend told me that the Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in my yard is an invasive species and said I should get rid of it. Is that true and why? If so, what are recommended replacement trees? Ailanthus altissima, commonly…

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Houseplants With Brown Leaf Tips

  • January 19, 2022
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Q: What causes some of my houseplants to develop ‘brown leaf tips’? How do I go about diagnosing the problem? Gardeners’ urge to grow and nurture plants does not recede during the winter’s dark days. The conditions for maintaining plants…

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  • Home
    • All Timely Topics
    • Ask a Master Gardener
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Vision, Mission, & Values
    • Projects
    • Community Partners
  • Events
  • Gardening Resources
    • Native Plants
    • Conservation Landscaping
      • Healthy Landscapes
      • Healthy Virginia Lawns
    • Horticultural Help Desks
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Monthly Gardening Tips
    • VCE Publications & Other Resources
    • Be a Steward of the Environment
  • Monthly Newsletter
  • Share Your Harvest
    • Find a Donation Site
    • Interactive Map of Donation Sites
    • Resources for Growing & Donating Your Harvest
    • Report Your Donations
  • Get Involved
    • Become an Extension Master Gardener
  • Donate
    • Consignment Donations
    • Brent & Becky’s Blooming Bucks
  • Contact
  • Members Only

The Garden Shed Newsletter

April 2025-Vol.11,No.4

Va. bluebell photo by Cathy Caldwell

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