Roanoke Master Gardeners Association
Sharing knowledge. Empowering communities.
Serving the Roanoke Valley since 1987
Extension Master Gardeners are volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management, education, and training. As an educational outreach component of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), the Roanoke Valley Chapter of Master Gardeners brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the Roanoke Valley, Botetourt County, and Craig County.
What's New!
Events and Activities
Always check out the Calendar page! These are some events that are already scheduled.
November 4, 2023
11 am -3 pm
Visit the Master Gardeners at the Ginkgo Tree Festival located at the Century Plaza 12 Church Ave. SE, Roanoke
celebrating the Ginkgo tree, the oldest tree on earth, the fall foliage and the beautiful sculptures honoring our seven sister cities with live music and children’s activities.
Rain or Shine!
Salem Public Library
November, 2023
6 pm
Our Master Gardener, Jessica Miller will be presenting the following at the Salem Public Library
28 E. Main Street, Salem
Dates:
November 8th Plant propagation
November 29th Composting
Local Farmers Markets
Our local Farmers Markets are gearing up for the Holiday Markets! Stay tuned for the dates and time.
Locations:
3 East Main Street, Salem,
Daleville Town Center,
Behind the Roanoke Co op: 1319 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the Berglund Center Home Show coming in February 16th,17th, and 18th. More info coming soon about our booth!
In the Know...
Sometimes we get information that we just HAVE to share.
They are usually short bits but to the point and usable information.
We hope you enjoy these tidbits.
SWVA Native Plants Organization has done it again!
They have complied a guide on all about our native plants. They will be coming very soon. The Roanoke Master Gardeners expect to receive their copies, hopefully, before the end of November 2023. We are all very excited about their efforts as there was no information about our region of Virginia.
Here is an early release via a link to download your very own copy! https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plantswvanatives/plant-swva-natives-guide
You Just Cannot Believe What a Pile of Leaves Can Do!
Of course, we all want our yards to look neat and tidy so go ahead and rake up the leaves. Instead of putting the raked up pile in a trash bin try one of these solutions:
Mow over them to mulch them up and put in your compost or simply leave them to decompose in the grass.
Move the raked pile to the back yard or out of the way of foot traffic so that insects can nest along with turtles, frogs, toads, fireflies, or salamanders to name a few. They provide protection from the winter temps, food, and a quick hideout.
Leaving a pile to overwinter will add moisture to the soil and nutrients. Generally, by spring. you will have a composted spot to plant something new.
Find out more: www.leaveleavesalone.org
Our programs
4H & Youth Programs
Engaging with young people and fostering the next generation of gardeners.
Speakers Bureau
We provide our community with learning opportunities through our tailored programming. Complete a Program Reqest form or Contact us if you have questions.
Horticulture Therapy
Facilitating the opportunity for gardening as a means of physical, psychological and social well-being.
Community Gardens
Discover our demonstration garden beds at Mountain View Community Garden where we provide gardening consultations and educational opportunities to the public. We also support LEAP with their various gardens and special activities like the Seed Swap at their new location.
Community Arboretum at VWCC
Supporting our community partner, the Arboretum at Virginia Western Community College, with events, groundskeeping, plant propagation, and tours.
Programs & Events
Throughout the year we offer public presentations and booths at various events including Farmers Markets, GoFest, Berglund Home Show, Earth Day, and more. All of our events are posted on the Calendar.
Our local 4-H organization is sponsored through Virginia Tech and as Master Gardeners we support and encourage participation in this extremely worthy group for children from 5-19 years old. All activities, classes, and workshops (except the annual camping experience) are free to these children. Don't miss out on these opportunities for your child!
Become a Master Gardener
Join a network of passionate gardeners serving their community through the Extension Master Gardener program. Each year we offer Master Gardener training which involves both textbook and hands-on learning, designed to help each new member gain the foundation they need to confidently serve our community.
OPEN ENROLLMENT for 2024 classes have started!! Visit the Join Us page to access the link to the application.
Plant problems? We can help.
Our help desk is available to assist you with numerous horticulture related concerns including:
Insect and plant identification
Plant disease and troubleshooting
Pest management
Soil health
Lawn care
Garden care
This program is offered free of charge to the communities we serve. To best serve you, please include a detailed description and clear, well-lit images. Use the online request form or call 540-776-7178.
See our Help Desk page for commonly asked questions.
Spotted Lanternfly Awareness
Help us monitor and better understand the impact of the Spotted Lanternfly in our area. If you discover one at any stage of development please contact us with the location you found it and an image (if possible); or if you're able to collect the specimen you can deliver it to any local extension office.
The first known sighting in the Roanoke area was in 2022. Monitoring continues through the collaborative effort of numerous organizations and local citizens.
Please see the Learning menu for more in depth information.
The Garden Dirt
The Garden Dirt is our quarterly newsletter filled with upcoming events, classes, monthly garden chores and activities, and lots more. Complete the form to the right to subscribe!