February 17, 2026
Matrix planting is a gardening technique that uses a few dominant species to form a base or "matrix" into which other plants are interwoven. The idea is to mimic natural plant communities that grow densely and cover every square inch of soil, to reduce weed competition and provide wildlife habitat.
February 17, 2026
The 2026 Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County will present the Garden and Landscape Symposium and Marketplace.
February 17, 2026
Almost nothing represents Christmas better than bright red berries on glossy green holly branches. Though the holidays are fading into memory, this remains a perfect time to be thinking about holly.
January 14, 2026
A miniature world of plants, thriving in a container, viewable at close range, makes for a perfect way to brighten one’s spirits in the middle of winter. Terrariums are such created worlds.
January 14, 2026
Holiday celebrations, for better or worse, often feature alcoholic beverages. Plants play an active role in producing beer, wine and spirits.
November 12, 2025
As a culture, we give thanks this month and gather to share a traditional holiday meal, often centered around turkey, a bird domesticated by Native Americans. What other foods did the Indigenous Peoples of North America find to forage, eat, cultivate and domesticate? How did Indigenous Peoples survive and prosper?
November 11, 2025
Despite the old saying, sometimes money really can "grow on trees." Studies by research organizations and real estate professionals estimate that landscaping—especially when it includes healthy, mature, well-placed trees—can increase property value by as much as 20 percent.
November 3, 2025
Do you have room, in your landscape and in your heart, for more? Any tree may provide shade, block wind, or obstruct an unwanted view, but the oak stands far above all others for its life-supporting capabilities.
October 13, 2025
In years past, fall cleanup for home gardeners meant scouring flower beds, vegetable patches, and lawns of every fallen leaf, leaving a neat and tidy home landscape. Times have changed.
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 17, 2025
People have been saving seeds since the Stone Age. No mail-order seed companies. No racks of seeds at the local grocery store or garden center. Saving seeds was a matter of survival. Today, gardeners still collect seeds. It's a great way to save money, to propagate heirloom varieties, and to increase the spread of native wildflowers in our gardens.
August 22, 2025
Stumped by a problem in your garden? Call the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County's Garden Hotline for solutions. The Garden Hotline is staffed by Master Gardener volunteers who can offer knowledgeable advice on garden-related issues. They can provide tips on growing vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and turfgrass. Whether you're struggling with plant ID, need advice on pruning, or resolving insect and disease issues, the hotline can give you science-backed recommendations.
July 1, 2025
Whether you've admired a grove of American beeches (Fagus grandiflora) in our hardwood forests, or planted a showy cultivar of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) such as 'Tricolor,' be on the lookout for the presence of beech leaf disease (BLD). The disease is also a problem for Asian beech species.
June 26, 2025
Your vegetable garden may be planted for the summer, but for an extended harvest of different crops, try succession planting. Smart gardeners enjoy spring greens, followed by warm-season plants like tomatoes and peppers, then segue into planning for a long fall harvest.
June 23, 2025
If a competition exists for the perfect perennial, bluestar (Amsonia species) gets my vote. The North America natives and their cultivars check just about every box on a gardener’s wish list.
June 9, 2025
The combination of late spring rains, warming temperatures, and increasing daylight awakens your lawn, flowers and shrubs. These conditions also nudge warm-weather weeds into making their initial seasonal appearance.
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.
May 27, 2025
Perennial flowering vines add height and diversity to the garden. They are valuable for adding vertical interest to the garden, whether draping a trellis, growing within a tuteur or planted at the base of a shrub, gracefully winding along the branches.
May 12, 2025
Have you ever encountered a toad in your garden? No, not a loathsome, contemptible person, but a small bumpy-skinned creature who hops around devouring garden pests. Toads make wonderful garden partners by eating lots of grubs, slugs, snails and also many insects.
February 28, 2025
Understanding a weed's life cycle—its growth and reproduction pattern—is the first step in controlling your weeds. Horticulturists have three weed life-cycle classifications: annual, biennial, and perennial.
February 10, 2025
Lichens are not plants; they are a symbiotic combination of multiple species.
January 15, 2025
Snake plants are perfect beginner house plants.
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.
October 22, 2024
October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month.
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!
January 16, 2024
What should the gardener make of houseplant products that abound, especially on websites and in catalogs? This article recommends which accessories are necessary for indoor plant care and which are not.
