Ask a Master Gardener

Question: What are the best types of turf for Central Virginia, and how do I go about choosing one for a new or totally renovated lawn? Selecting the right turf type for a Central Virginia lawn can be a bit…

Question: What is the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes? Which kind should I plant? What planting guidelines should I follow? What great questions! Many people may not understand that the determinate/indeterminate property of tomatoes affects the way plants look,…

Question: I’ve heard that we should all be planting more native plants in our yards. What are they and why are they preferable to non-native plants? What native plants do you recommend for a sunny yard? Glad to hear that…

Question: What disease affected my apple trees last year and what do I do about it? Diagnosing plant diseases can be challenging, but in this case, there are distinctive clues to help you find the answer! If cedar-apple rust is…

Question: A seed catalog labels Petunias as a half-hardy annual. How is that different from a tender annual and a hardy annual? Can I grow all of them here in Central Virginia? First let’s define annuals and explain the terms:…

Question: How does one start seeds? What are the benefits of doing so? Learning about seed starting beforehand will make it easier and more successful! The proper time for starting seeds depends whether you start seeds outdoors or indoors, as…

Question: What is meant by highbush and lowbush blueberries? Which blueberry varieties are recommended for this region? Thinking about planting some blueberry bushes this spring? Here is the lowdown on recommended blueberry bushes for Virginia. Highbush and lowbush are two…

Question: The bulbs I planted last fall did not come up this spring and there are tunnels running under my sod. What caused the damage? What are my options? This is some good information, as you begin to think ahead…

Question: What do I need to know to identify insects in my garden? Learning to identify and manage insect populations in your garden can seem a daunting task. Winter is a good time to learn the basics of insect ID,…

Question: How do I build a backyard habitat? Congratulations on wanting to build a backyard habitat! You can transform just about any space into a habitat, whether it is a small backyard corner or a large plot of land. Thinking…