Need A Speaker? We can help!

Trained Master Gardener speakers are available for groups of all sizes, interests and ages.

Our passion is gardening and our mission is education! We would be happy to share our horticulture knowledge with homeowners in our county and surrounding areas. Following is a list of presentations we have available. Due to the schedules of our volunteers, not all presentations are available at all times. 

We request a $75 donation, which goes towards developing our program. Master Gardeners are also available to give tours of our demonstration gardens located throughout the county.

Information presented by Penn State Master Gardeners is consistent with Penn State recommendations and research-based information on best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship.

Contact our county coordinator at dad5926@psu.edu or by phone at 724-287-4761 extension 6 to discuss your presentation now!

Basic Gardening Skills 

Preparing Your Garden for Spring 

Spring is a wonderful time to make garden plans but where do you begin? This class covers the basics: assessing your space, making a plan, preparing tools, evaluating your soil, composting, mulching, basic pruning, dividing existing plants, and selecting new plants for your space.  

Soils 101

Have you ever wanted to improve your soil health? Through this presentation we will take a look at what soil is, what makes a soil healthy, and what you can do to improve your soil health at home. 

Composting

Learn what compost is and how to make it in your backyard. Composting will improve your soil and give you a more abundant garden.  

Garden Tools and Their Care 

This class covers different tools that improve your gardening experience. You will also learn how to care for those tools keeping them in tip-top condition.

Pruning Shrubs and Small Trees 

Pruning plants can be a little intimidating but, when done correctly, can really help the plant's health. This class covers the basics of how to prune shrubs and small trees (not fruit trees) both in Spring and mid-season. 

Perennial and Small Shrubs Gardening

This class gives helpful suggestions of great performing  perennials and small shrubs for your garden. This includes good native choices.

Great Choices for Your Flower Border 

Suggestions for creating a knock-out herbaceous border. 

Putting the Garden to Bed 

Best practices for cleaning up your garden in Fall. 

Spring Clean Up

Best practices for cleaning up your garden for a new season.

Go Native! Plant This, Not That

Plants that are native to Pennsylvania  are better for the environment, easier to grow, and will attract more birds, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden. Learn what natives, specific to our area, can replace some of your favorite plants that are invasive. Popular invasive trees, shrubs, vines, perennials and groundcovers and their better counterparts are reviewed. In addition, you will learn about several “native hero” plants that every gardener should consider including in their landscape plan.

Garden Design 

Designing a Garden for All Seasons  

This presentation steps through six blooms in a single bed showing examples of continuous bloom.  The on-paper design process is also demonstrated in a series of slides. Basic design principles are reviewed. The proper creation of raised beds are discussed. Examples of various circular beds are highlighted.

Design Principles in the Garden Plus Design and Care of a Large Pollinator Garden

This talk features many pictures of design principles used in the garden, such as symmetry, focal points, and harmony.  Also, participants have an opportunity to view the Mars Library Pollinator Garden "through the years." They will be able to identify design features of the library garden and understand the effect of different design choices. 

Plants for Shade Gardens

Have you wondered what does well in the shade? This program talks about successfully gardening in shady conditions. Tips are given about the best plants for dry, moderate, or wet soil in spring, summer and fall for a great shade garden! 

Pollinator Gardening for Small Yards

This program will show the basics of how to plant a small scale pollinator garden, from a small flower bed to a flower pot or two on your porch.  We will provide information on small scale plant species that will provide food for butterflies, caterpillars and hummingbirds. With just a small garden spot or even a few flower pots on a porch or patio, you can create a habitat for pollinators that will fulfill their need for food, water, and shelter. This presentation will feature five easy-to-grow plants and some smaller shrubs that will bring a variety of pollinators to your garden.

Edibles 

6 Steps to Growing Vegetables

This program is primarily geared to new vegetable growers. There will be a discussion of why grow your own vegetables, deciding what to grow, planning and care of your garden,  watching for disease and pests, and harvesting. A salad garden of lettuce tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and onions is used as an example. The object is to build confidence as the gardener navigates different growing seasons and adds new vegetables.

This program can be adapted to teach advanced gardeners and include a deeper discussion into pests and diseases.

Culinary Herbs 

An introduction to much-loved culinary herbs and how to grow them. 

Grow, Snip, Savor: Herbs Made Easy

Discover the most effective methods for helping herbs to thrive in your garden. This class covers proven techniques for selecting, planting, and harvesting favorites like basil, dill, garlic, oregano, thyme, and many more. You’ll leave with practical tips and confidence to grow healthy, flavorful herbs all season long.

Growing Herbs 101

The historical uses of fragrant and culinary herbs, as well as how to grow them.

Vegetables

Do you grow a handful of garden vegetables but would like to branch out to different types and varieties? This program is for you. We will explore things like how to grow different beans, peas, okra, asparagus, tomatoes etc. 

Ornamental Plants

Cut Flower Gardening

Learn the basics of growing a cut flower gardening utilizing perennials and annuals. This program will present suggestions for cut flower varieties, tools, care, and arrangement ideas to brighten your home throughout the summer!

The Incredible Hydrangea! 

Hydrangeas are wonderful, versatile shrubs to include in your garden. Lovely to look at, they are also easy to grow and a great addition to any garden. In this presentation we discuss how to select a hydrangea that is perfect for your landscape and how to care for them year round. 

Native Gardening in Suburbia

This class covers the definition and identification of native plants, the benefits of gardening with native plants, and why using native plants for landscaping is gardening for nature. In the presentation we will discuss choosing the proper plant for the location.

Orchids 101

Learn the basics about buying and caring for this beautiful houseplant. We also learn more about different varieties of orchid.

Using Shrubs in the Landscape 

This program identifies flowering and non-flowering shrubs (azaleas, viburnums, forsythia, evergreens) that perform well in our area with tips on care. 

Birds 

Birds in Your Garden

An introduction to common birds of Pennsylvania found in the backyard. Discussing permanent and migratory species, and some of their habitat needs.

Planting for Birds and Butterflies

You’ve filled your garden with lots of colorful flowers and shrubs but why aren’t there more birds and butterfly visitors? This presentation will give you specific ideas on which plants to include and how best to use them in your landscape to meet the basic needs of these colorful visitors in all seasons. Birds and butterflies have different needs throughout their lifecycle and having the right variety of plantings will encourage them to visit, raise their young, and stay to continue to enhance the beauty and enjoyment of the garden you love.

Encouraging Pollinators

Pollinator Friendly Gardening

This program provides an overview of the requirements of pollinators and what a pollinator garden should contain. We discuss the basic preparation and design elements of a pollinator garden as well as examples of the native shrubs and perennials that are good pollinator plants. We also provide a basic outline of how to certify your garden as pollinator-friendly with Penn State Extension and resources to help you get started. 

Drought-Resistant Pollinator Plants

With summers increasingly having long dry periods to them, it can be very helpful to know which pollinator friendly plants are drought resistant. This program highlights some varieties to consider for your garden.

How to Certify Your Garden as Pollinator Friendly

Penn State offers a program for gardeners who would like to have their pollinator garden certified as "Pollinator Friendly".  This presentation will provide step-by-step instructions on how to plant a garden that will provide for the needs of pollinators and how to have your garden certified and added to the " Pollinator Friendly Garden" map.

How to Plant a Small-Scale Pollinator Garden

This program will show the basics of how to plant a small scale pollinator garden, from a small flower bed to a flower pot or two on your porch.  We will provide information on small scale plant species that will provide food for butterflies, caterpillars and hummingbirds. This Small Scale Pollinator Garden presentation will help gardeners with small gardens or even just a patio to provide plantings that will draw pollinators to their yards and meet the pollinator's needs for nectar and host plants, this presentation will cover some smaller shrubs and plants that are best suited for smaller gardens

Preparing a Pollinator Garden for Winter

This program will provide guidance for when to cut back, clean up and tidy your pollinator garden yet still maintaining shelter for overwintering pollinators.

Honeybees and Beekeeping

Learn all about honeybee biology and products from the hive. We will also discuss beekeeping equipment and what it takes to become a beekeeper. 

Garden Pests and Other Problems 

Spotted Lanternfly  (No charge)

Spotted Lanternfly is a new threat to Pennsylvania and the United States, and experts are still learning how to combat it. It is quite common now in Allegheny County and has spread north into Butler County. The class will explore this insect’s biology and some of the methods that can be used to control it.

Two New Emerging Pests: Milkweed Stem Weevils and Allium Leaf Miner

This presentation helps with the identification and control of two new pests. Risk factors will also be discussed.

Replacing Invasive Plants with Natives

This presentation identifies invasive plants and makes suggestions for better native choices!