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Are you ready to start plants from seeds? National Seed Swap Day is the last Saturday in January each year, but seed swaps are held on various dates in advance of Spring. These events are great opportunities to get free (or low-cost) seeds and share and connect with other gardeners. Upcoming Maryland seed swaps:
The Seed Library Network has loads of information on seed libraries and seed swaps!
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Maryland Native Plant Guide-Piedmont Region
The free PDF can be accessed online from the button below with desktop and mobile options available. Printed booklets will be available soon for purchase. Check your local Extension office or the Maryland Native Plant Society for availability. Guides for the coastal plain and mountain regions are in development.
| | | New Food Access Resources | | |
Too many Maryland residents are facing food insecurity and hunger. Learn about food resources in your area.
| | | Residential Landscape Ecology | | Shrink Your Lawn Footprint | | |
UME's Residential Landscape Ecology and Bay-Wise Living Landscapes Programs seek to improve Chesapeake Bay health and climate resilience of Maryland communities by teaching Marylanders ways to reduce the environmental footprint of their landscape care practices.
We recently polled 2025 program participants and, based on 106 responses, found that an impressive 89% of participants adjusted or added a sustainable practice to their landscape care routine.
Of those respondents 61% took actions to shrink their lawn footprint.
How exactly did they do that?
- 86% reduced lawn area
- 70% replaced sections of turfgrass with native plants
- 55% adjusted watering practices to conserve water
- 50% minimized or eliminated routine application of fungicides, herbicides, and/or insecticides
- 46% adjusted lawnmower to a higher setting
- 39% planted native grass
- 36% reduced synthetic fertilizer use
- 31% sharpened a lawnmower blade
- 38% switched at least one piece of lawn equipment to electric
- 54% talked to another Marylander about how to reduce their lawn footprint
We are excited about what this represents for the future as Marylanders seek out economical ways to become better stewards of land and water to boost biodiversity, reduce flood and drought risks, and ensure clean water for now and the future.
If you are interested in a presentation on sustainable lawn care for your group, please contact Stacy Small-Lorenz at sslorenz@umd.edu.
| | Stacy Small-Lorenz, Ph.D. (Residential Landscape Ecology Specialist) details Bay-Wise ways, such as leaving leaf litter, keeping cats indoors, and minimizing winter salting, to support Maryland bird populations in an article entitled “Bay-Wise Living Landscapes: For Maryland’s Birds, Bees, and the Bay” written for The Yellowthroat, the Journal of the Maryland Ornithological Society. Bay-Wise offers practical actions that Marylanders can take to boost biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and ensure clean water for both the present and the future. | | | |
Interested in shrinking your own lawn footprint or creating healthy wildlife habitat in your yard?
Check out the Maryland Living Landscapes Metric for all the actions and helpful resources!
| | | | | Should I dump out used potting soil from my containers? | |
Q: I have a tomato plant outside in a pot with potting soil. Since it is approaching winter, we wanted to clean the pot out and we don't know what to do with the soil and plant. We also have some dried tomato seeds and wanted to ask what's the best way to store them for planting next year.
A: The potting soil can be dumped into a container with a lid or into a heavy duty trash bag and stored outdoors for the winter. Tomato seeds should be thoroughly dried....
| | Do you have a gardening question? Our Certified Professional Horticulturists, faculty, and Master Gardener Volunteers are ready to answer - year-round! | | Follow our blog to learn about pollinator conservation, growing native plants and food, and how to solve plant pest and disease problems. | | | | |
Winter Solstice Container Gardening
In this article Residential Landscape Ecology Specialist Stacy Small-Lorenz shows how to create a winter solstice container garden using cold-tolerant Maryland native plants. Despite several deep freezes, she reports that it is still thriving in a sheltered corner of her front porch. She observed a bit of leaf curling in the Heucheras during the deepest cold snaps, but all of the plants have pulled through winter very well so far. "I was hoping it would make it through New Year's Day, at least. Now I'm looking forward to seeing how this winter container garden transitions to spring!"
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GreenScapes
Friday, February 13 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 pm | Online
| | Thriving landscapes that support wildlife, enhance biodiversity, and respond to environmental challenges require thoughtful design and tested practices. This engaging symposium brings together experts in horticulture, ecology, and design to share solutions that work—from small gardens to large public landscapes. | | Natives at Noon Series | First Wednesday of the month| 12:00 p.m.| Online | | |
Lisa Kuder, Native Plants & Landscapes Specialist, is launching a new Natives at Noon webinar series in 2026!
Hello! I’m your host, Lisa Kuder, from UMD Extension. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 as we delve into various topics related to native plants. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, this series provides an opportunity to expand your knowledge and engage with experts in the field. Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, these sessions are an excellent way to earn Continuing Education Units. Although the presentations are free of charge, registration is required to attend. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your understanding of native plants while enjoying your lunch. Register at the links below to attend. *These webinars will not be recorded.*
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Maryland's Best
Native Plant Program
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A new year means new marketing opportunities including the Maryland's Best Native Plant Program! Marketed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and supported by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the University of Maryland Extension, and the Maryland Native Plant Society - this FREE marketing program highlights and markets retailers and wholesale growers to consumers and buyers who have at least 20% of their inventory* dedicated to Maryland Native Plants. Learn more and apply at marylandsbest.net!
*Inventory includes everything EXCEPT vegetables, herbs, house plants, agricultural crop plants, and cut flowers (not the entire plant).
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The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.
©2026 University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
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