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Winter 2023

Welcome to a New Year and the promise of a new gardening season! Whether you intend to start your first vegetable garden this spring, plan to refresh a landscape planting you've had for many years, or want to identify "what's bugging" a tree, shrub, or indoor plant, we are here to help you succeed using trusted, science-based information. Get started using our online resources, send your gardening questions to Ask Extension, and check out local events hosted by Extension Master Gardeners.

2023 Gardening Calendar Our 2023 Monthly Tips & Tasks Calendar is filled with ideas and reminders to help you have a successful and productive year in the garden. Use it to plan your seed sowing, planting dates, and more! Download the calendar

January is for Garden Planning Starting plants from seeds is a fun and economical way to garden. How do you decide which seeds to buy? Master Gardener Erica Smith offers excellent advice to help you plan. Read her tips

Guide to Invasive Plants Winter is a good time to identify and manage some types of invasive plants, like English ivy! Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas is the go-to field guide for identifying invasive plants in Maryland. A new edition of this guide was recently published and is available online and in print. Get the field guide

Ask Extension

Is this fungus/mushroom harmful to our maple? We recently noticed this fungus/mushroom growing on a large silver maple. I believe it appeared or grew to this size sometime in the past few weeks. Is it harmful to our maple? Should it be removed?  Read the answer on Ask Extension Send us your gardening questions and photos online

Learn About & Improve Your Soil

Healthy soils grow healthy plants with fewer pest and disease problems. University of Maryland Extension web pages can help you with soil improvement, filling raised beds, and selecting fertilizers. A basic soil test will give you the soil pH, nutrient and organic matter levels, and recommendations for fertilizer and lime, if needed. If you want to learn more about the soils around your home or in your community check out the new Rutgers University factsheet on using the Web Soil Survey, a free resource from USDA-NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Services).

On the Maryland Grows Blog

Each week on our blog you will find a new article addressing topics such as pollinator conservation, growing native plants or food, or how to solve plant pest and disease problems.

Featured Article Thinking about getting honeybees? Some food for thought by Dr. Anahí Espíndola Timely Topics on the Blog Why light levels are important for indoor plant growth Peat-free potting mixes Lettuce in the midst of winter Creating a new garden with native plants Subscribe to the blog

University of Maryland Arboretum

Did you know the University of Maryland is an arboretum & botanical garden? The entire College Park campus is an award-winning public garden with dozens of gardens to enjoy and more than 15,000 woody plants. Explore the collections and inventory and plan your visit!  (Photo: Sam Bahr, horticulturist)

UMD Research Highlights

Entomologists Issue Warning About Effects of Climate Change on Insects UMD entomologist and Maryland Grows blogger Anahí Espíndola urges conservation landscaping. Keep your Cats Inside for the Sake of their Health and Local Ecosystem Cat outdoors are at risk of contracting diseases and causing native wildlife declines.

We're Hiring!

The University of Maryland Extension is hiring a Business Services Specialist to support the operational and administrative functions of the Home and Garden Information Center and the Master Gardener Program. Candidates should apply online by January 25, 2023.

GreenScapes Event

The GreenScapes Symposium is an annual program sponsored by Brookside Gardens. This year's program will offer strategies to achieve a range of goals, including the design of landscapes that reduce carbon footprints and are resilient to climate change. Speakers also will explore innovative design and maintenance practices that bring visual order to naturalistic gardens and make them more palatable to neighbors and HOAs. February 17, 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (online); $55 Learn more about the program, speakers, and registration

MORE EVENTS  University of Maryland Extension College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Find Master Gardener classes and activities in your county or Baltimore City GARDEN TIPS & TASKS January February March ----------------- SPANISH LANGUAGE BLOG Extensión en Español Blogs de Extensión de la Universidad de Maryland

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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. ©2023 University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources