The shortening days of fall signaled to our plants that it was quitting time for the food-making machinery in their leaves. Green chlorophyll faded away and allowed an array of other colors to emerge in our foliage, delighting the eyes as we brace for the even darker...
The Piedmont Master Gardeners Association provides science-based gardening information to the community of Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville.
Resources
Events
Programs
Help Combat Food Insecurity
Our program helps you put your garden’s extra bounty
to good use by sharing it with these local food banks and food pantries.
Upcoming PMG Events
Free Spring Lecture: "Horticulture Futurism"
Featuring Thomas Rainer
Tuesday, April 08, 2025
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Rose and Pollinator Demonstration Gardens
Garden Basics: Foodscaping
The Edible Landscape
Saturday, April 26, 2025
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville
Spring Plant Sale
Annual Event
Sayurday, May 3, 2025
19:00am – 2:00pm
Albemarle Square Shopping Center
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A Lifetime of Learning
Enjoy our latest articles below
Timely Topics
Leave the Leaves; They’re a Gift for Your Garden
By Fern Campbell Piedmont Master Gardener Fallen leaves are a gift from Mother Nature to our yards and gardens. In addition to providing many other benefits, such as creating shade, sequestering carbon, filtering air pollution, and giving food and shelter to wildlife,...
The Spotted Lanternfly Is Here. What Should We Do?
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia, has been working its way toward our area since 2014, when it began taking its toll on vineyards, orchards and home landscapes in southeast Pennsylvania. In Virginia, it was first detected in the Winchester area—at...
Ask a Master Gardener
Planning a Vegetable Garden Irrigation System
Q: I am planning to install a raised bed vegetable garden irrigation system. What are some things I should be considering? By Kathryn Schick, Piedmont Master Gardener Intern Irrigation systems can be a game-changer for home gardeners looking to maximize efficiency...
Protecting and Preserving Topsoil During New Home Construction
Question: I’ve contracted to have a new home built and groundbreaking starts soon. What measures should be taken prior to and during construction to preserve and protect the topsoil and native plants on my site? By Carla Throckmorton, Piedmont Master Gardener Intern...
Eradicating Bamboo
Question: How can I eradicate my golden bamboo patch? By Camille Keely, Piedmont Master Gardener Intern Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), also known as fishpole or running bamboo, is one of the most common types of non-native bamboo in Virginia. Originating in...
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Alert: Invasive Plants, Insects, and Diseases
Vascular Streak Dieback: Threat to Redbuds and Dogwoods
You may wonder why you haven’t seen many flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida) or Eastern Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) in local nurseries lately. This is likely due to concern about Vascular Streak Dieback, a fungal infection attacking these and other trees.
Spotted Lanternfly
A potentially very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops and a variety of other crops, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, was detected in Albemarle County, Virginia, in July 2021. As of June 15th, 2022, Albemarle County has been placed in a Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine.
