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PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Master Gardeners provide free gardening-related community service for Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. Working as both problem solvers and teachers, we can be found in many locales. We staff Plant Clinics, develop and maintain Demonstration Gardens, conduct Public Education programs. We are involved in schoolyard gardening for the young and horticultural therapy for the elderly and disabled. We assist VCE staff in training others to be Master Gardeners.
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Plants Clinics Master Gardener volunteers staff plant clinics at the locations listed below and can help diagnose plant diseases, pests and other problems; provide advice on choosing, planting, and maintaining landscape plants; offer suggestions on pest control products and their safe use; help you learn how to use water wisely in your garden; and discuss other gardening concerns.
Extension Master Gardeners Help Desk - Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer questions Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon (except on holidays). Call (703) 228-6414 to speak to a Master Gardener or leave a message with your name and phone number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. You can also drop by the office during Help Desk hours (Directions to VCE Office) or visit the VCE website for answers to many garden-related questions.
Seasonal Plant Clinics
- Alexandria Farmer's Market, 301 King Street (Market Square)
- Arlington Farmer's Market, North Courthouse Road and North 14th Street
- Arlington Central Library, 1015 North Quincy Street
- Del Ray Farmer's Market, Mount Vernon and East Oxford Avenues, Alexandria
For specific dates and times on Plant Clinics and Directions, see the Events Schedule
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| Demonstration Gardens
Members of Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia have developed and maintain five demonstration gardens. In each of these gardens, the community can see firsthand the types of plants that grow well in our area, recommended planting practices, and overall garden care. Visitors can also simply enjoy each garden's unique beauty.
The gardens contain a large variety of plants. Old favorites grow alongside new experimental varieties. Volunteers maintain the gardens throughout the year using the practices and techniques learned in the Master Gardener training program and monthly continuing education programs. If you see a work party in progress, stop by and talk to our volunteers. They'll be pleased to show you the gardens and answer your questions.
For more information on the MGNV Demonstrations Gardens, click here.
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Public Education
Each year Master Gardener volunteers and VCE present composting and lawn care workshops for the public. The composting workshops teach the basics of recycling yard waste into compost that can enrich garden soil and help produce healthier, more beautiful plans. The lawn care classes, held in both spring and fall, cover such issues as when and how to water and apply fertilizer, lime, and weed killer and how to choose the best turfgrass for specific conditions and performance. Other public education classes are held periodically.
Check the Events Schedule page for more information on upcoming education programs or call the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk at 703-228-6414 to be notified when these and other workshops are scheduled.
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Schoolyard Gardening
Schoolyard gardening projects provide excellent opportunities for children to learn about plants, wildlife, and the environment. Children are our future Master Gardeners! Master Gardeners support schoolyard gardening projects at the following schools:
In Arlington:
- Tuckahoe Elementary
- Patrick Henry Elementary
- Carlin Springs Elementary
- Abingdon Elementary School
- Barrett Elementary
- Science Focus School
- Washington-Lee High School
- Williamsburg Middle School
In Alexandria:
- Cora Kelly Magnet School
G- eorge Washington Middle School
- Polk Elementary
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Horticultural Therapy
Horticultural therapy is becoming more and more popular to enable people with physical or mental disabilities to benefit from gardening experiences. Master Gardeners have helped establish gardens at the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Arlington and are active in programs at the following locations:
- Culpepper Garden Senior Center
4435 N. Pershing Drive, Arlington, VA
- L'Arche Group Home
413 S. Highland Street, Arlington, VA
Master Gardener Training
Perhaps you would like to become a Master Gardener yourself? The training program consists of over 60 hours of classroom instruction followed by a structured 60-hour internship of hands-on community service in approved, education-oriented gardening activities. For more information on the training program, click here.
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