Ask a Master Gardener

Question: How do I tell moles from voles and determine which of these pests is damaging my lawn or garden?… Read More »Identifying Moles and Voles

Question: I need to mulch my vegetable garden.  What is the difference between straw and hay?  This is a frequently… Read More »Straw vs. Hay as Mulch

Question: I’ve heard that pruning oaks in spring and summer is not recommended. Why? Pruning oak trees during the growing… Read More »Timing of Pruning Oak Trees

Question: The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a bush of choice in many neighborhoods. I’ve heard that I shouldn’t plant… Read More »Alternatives to Burning Bush

Question: I have some rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp’) and English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’), which have some dead stems and… Read More »Pruning Rosemary and Lavender

Question: What is Organic Gardening? Many of us are interested in organic gardening as a way to produce healthy fruits… Read More »Understanding Organic Gardening

Question: When and where do I go to find spring ephemerals and can I grow them in my garden?  Here… Read More »Searching for Spring Ephemerals

Question: What kind of flowering shrub would you recommend for a sunny, low lying wet area bordering my yard? A… Read More »Buttonbush: 2022 Virginia Wildflower of the Year

Question: A friend told me that the Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in my yard is an invasive species and said I… Read More »Controlling Tree-of-Heaven