April 3, 2026
Master Gardener plant sales support educational programs and feature a variety of plants, shrubs, trees, or flowers chosen for local growing conditions. Check the list to find plant sales near you!
March 24, 2026
March 13, 2026
One day recently I was watering the houseplants in my home. Something unusual immediately caught my attention. There was a strange intruder growing in a flower pot with my Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)!
February 27, 2026
In January I wrote about the potential to use a combination of keystone species and other native plants to create a more sustainable and functional ecosystem in your backyard.
February 17, 2026
The article traces how gardening evolved from chemical-dependent agriculture to more sustainable approaches like organic, ecological, permaculture, and regenerative gardening.
January 16, 2026
My guess is that when most people hear the term "holly," they picture a grouping of three pointy dark green leaves and a cluster of berries. However, hollies come in many shapes and sizes. Often we think of them as evergreens, meaning, they hold their leaves throughout the winter season. But this group of plants comes in many forms, from trees to shrubs, from evergreen to deciduous.
December 12, 2025
Now is the time to collect, store, stratify and even plant seeds for next spring so let’s discuss.
November 24, 2025
What do you know about choosing a Christmas tree? Tree selection becomes a bit easier if you know the difference between the tree types.
November 7, 2025
Halloween is upon us! While trick-or-treat is a Halloween tradition, so are pumpkins—from jack-o-lanterns to pumpkin-spice everything (including coffee)—and spooky movies.
October 14, 2025
Perhaps you have heard of focusing on native plants to re-establish wildlife habitats in our outdoor spaces, using ecological landscaping that complements and supports the local ecosystem instead of destroying it or working against it. But have you heard of being carbon conscious?
September 26, 2025
Things that can be done this fall before the first snowflake falls.
September 23, 2025
Volunteers weeded, pruned, and prepared the memorial grounds in Somerset County to welcome families and visitors ahead of the 24th annual remembrance on September 11
September 11, 2025
Incorporate proper sustainable gardening practices to save money and the environment.
August 29, 2025
This acronym "IPM" is often heard within the horticulture and agriculture industry, whether it is garden centers or farmers. But do we really understand what IPM is?
August 15, 2025
August 12, 2025
"A meadow is more than just an open field. Meadows are diverse, dynamic habitats dominated by herbaceous plants, including native grasses and wildflowers."
July 22, 2025
Fall vegetable gardening is often referred to as the second spring.
June 9, 2025
The Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer program supports the outreach mission of Penn State Extension by utilizing unbiased research-based information to educate the public and our communities on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.
April 17, 2025
"Gardens represent simplicity, our true calling, the only ideal refuge where humanity can retreat in troubled times, far from the noise and fury, and regroup to face the challenges of modernity." —Philippe Desbrosesses
March 28, 2025
Ready to plant your garden? April is a great time to start planting. Here are some tips on the timing of the vegetable garden.
March 4, 2025
February 21, 2025
If I asked you where to find cactus in the United States, you would undoubtedly say Arizona, New Mexico, or the southwestern part of the country. And you would be correct. But is there a cactus closer to home? And how would you take care of it?
January 3, 2025
"Honeysuckle." Even the name, the marriage of a sweet noun with a nurturing verb, evokes images of garden nirvana, a plant to satisfy multiple senses. And yet, under the same name, the invasive exotic species choke out our native shrubs and trees.
December 19, 2024
Why and how to grow this 'tropical' plant in Pennsylvania
December 19, 2024
December 18, 2024
Native plants have many ecological benefits but some of them have poisonous properties. You may not want to invite these native plants into your yard.
September 5, 2024
Ornamental olive trees, once frequently sought-after landscape plants, are now on Pennsylvania's invasive plant list.
June 24, 2024
Create a healthy garden teaming with pollinators and other beneficial insects by adding, changing, or removing a few tasks in the gardening process through the seasons.
May 6, 2024
View the full report of Penn State Extension Master Gardener county, state, and even national accomplishments!
March 6, 2024
