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Home and Garden Information Center Newsletter

Winter 2024

Seed Swap Days

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:


a collection of seed packets

Orchid Care

How can you get an orchid plant to rebloom? In this video, horticulturist Miri Talabac and our state Master Gardener Program Coordinator Stephanie Pully talk about how to provide good care for one of the most common types of orchids, Phaleonopisis, and the conditions they need to initiate new flower spikes.

how to care for orchids - light - water - fertilizer - and blooms
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Invasive Plants

English ivy growing up a tree trunk

1,417 people responded to the Maryland Native Plant Coalition's recent survey about invasive plants. The most troublesome invasives reported were:



New legislation is being introduced in Maryland to ban the sale of invasive plants. You can follow updates on this page.

In the winter you can identify some invasive plants that retain green leaves or "green up" early.



Guidance on controlling these and other invasive plants can be found in the free publication download:


Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic

Soil Health

Plant health depends on soil health. University of Maryland Extension has lots of resources to help you understand and improve your soil conditions.



To get in a soil improvement mood, listen to "Down In The Ground" a song by Peter Mayer that was commissioned by the Soil Science Society of America.

Ask Extension
garden area near a road

Plant a Native Plant Hedge?

Q: My yard faces a road that can get busy during rush hour. I want to put in plants that can develop into a barrier or hedge. Are there any native shrubs and bushes you would recommend for that purpose?


A: Using a mix of species is recommended for the best resiliency for the planting as a whole, as well as to boost wildlife value...

Read the Answer

Do you have a gardening question? Our Certified Professional Horticulturists, faculty, and Master Gardener Volunteers are ready to answer - year-round!

Ask Extension

Maryland Grows Blog

Follow our blog to learn about pollinator conservation, growing native plants and food, and how to solve plant pest and disease problems.

tree buried too deeply in mulch

Featured Article


Free the Flare!

Maintaining a visible root flare on trees is important for their overall health and pest management, noted Smithsonian Gardens arborist Jacob Hendee in a recent talk.

Read More

Other Timely Topics 


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Events

GreenScapes

Friday, February 16 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 pm | Online

Looking for ways to transform your garden into a sustainable landscape with native plants? Learn from real-world examples at the upcoming virtual GreenScapes Symposium. For more information and to register online, visit www.brooksidegreen.org.

Register Now

MORE EVENTS



University of Maryland Extension

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Find Master Gardener classes and activities in your county or Baltimore City

GARDEN TIPS & TASKS


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