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VPM
Get a close-up view of the microbial life inside of plants and soil at a Cooperative Extension laboratory. Visit a colonial style garden to learn about flowers and herbs grown to make colorful dyes for fabric.
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VPM/VPMDiscover popular houseplant varieties and learn about their care. Visit a garden featuring unique herbs and discuss their uses beyond the kitchen. -
I am looking forward to consistently warmer weather so we can plant our heat-loving crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers and melons. However, what I am not excited about are the increased number of pests and diseases that come along with the warm weather.
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We all know the heat is coming; it’s only a few weeks away. Rather than react, I act now by taking a few simple steps to keep the landscape green, growing and resilient.
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Tim Wright/VPMExplore state and national champion trees at Richmond’s historic Maymont park. Tour Dragon Run on the Middle Peninsula to learn about bald cypress and the old growth forest network.
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PhotoJuthamat - stock.adobe.com/376424661Is your soil ready for your plants? This is a great question and most of us might just look at the soil to say yes — it looks loamy and has that black, rich color, or no — it looks like red Virginia clay to me! There is so much more to soil than meets the eye, and I want to introduce the best way to know more about what is in your dirt: the soil test.
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I garden with deer, where more than a dozen think my gardens are their personal restaurant to browse through. I have gardened with deer for many years, and through research backed by expensive trial and error on my part, I now only buy plants with specific traits.
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As gardeners, during the winter months we start missing our time in the garden. We spend so much time in our gardens during the warm season, that when we are forced to slow down due to frozen ground or uncomfortable cold, we can start feeling depressed and eager to get back to playing in the soil.
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A common question fellow gardeners ask me is about what my favorite plants are. While I have a few favorites, I really do like almost all plants so trying to choose just a few is difficult.
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I have always enjoyed going into my backyard and harvesting veggies for a meal, but I find it even more exciting during winter. I often continue growing into the winter by protecting my fall garden beds that get the most sunlight during winter.
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When I sit in my sunniest room, flipping through the various catalogs stacked at my feet, I know I need to be very careful with the plant choices I make. My years of experience have taught me that these choices will have an impact on my garden — and on my time — until the end of the season.
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Mulching is a time-honored technique in the garden. Using plant-based materials like wood chips, bark, leaves, grass clippings and compost are all ways to add “organic” amendments to your soil. -
Visit a private garden using sustainable practices to promote soil health. Learn about biochar, a nutrient-rich additive that improves soil fertility and structure while sequestering carbon underground.
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Four recent Virginia Home Grown features were honored at the 45th Annual Telly Awards, receiving one silver and three bronze recognitions across a variety of categories.
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Many gardeners are afraid of the thought of container gardening, when in fact gardening in containers not only can add interest to your gardening spaces, but are also very functional.
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The first flush of summer blooming flowers lights up the garden creating a magnificent sight and then, unfortunately, they fade. Keeping plants robust and repeatedly flowering means the gardener must not only maintain plant health but remove the spent blossoms, too.
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Investigate climate change in the Commonwealth and learn about work to adapt our landscapes to the new normal. Discover how marshes buffer against sea level rise. Explore challenges and opportunities facing public gardens due to warmer growing zones.
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With spring flowers faded away and the summer garden getting into gear, there are a few tasks you can do during these early days of summer.
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I love the look of wood and its ability to break down and return to soil. However, we need raised beds that will last longer and require less maintenance over the years, so we have to consider sustainable materials.
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Explore green technology for the home garden and state forests! Uncover the history of electric lawn care equipment that goes back 50 years. See how the Virginia Department of Forestry uses drones to survey forest health and help fight fires.
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Knowing your hardiness zone can help you choose the right plants for your garden. Robyn shares her advice when accounting for the zone you're in.
