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Home Horticulture
The Home Horticulture Program offers programs and workshops to interested individuals in a variety of horticulture areas. Here is information about an upcoming forestry workshop.
What Is the University of Maryland Extension?
The University of Maryland Extension is one arm of the University's College of Agriculture. The mission of Extension is to educate citizens to apply practical, research-based knowledge to critical issues facing individuals, families, communities, the State and our global partners. In Carroll County, the Extension offers research-based educational programs, workshops and seminars as well as informational literature in Agriculture, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences and Residential Environmental Management. Within Residential Environmental Management, regular programs are offered on topics related to gardening and pest management.
The Master Gardener Program
The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer training program conducted annually by the University of Maryland Extension. Volunteers are instructed in the following areas:
- Botany
- Entomology
- Soils
- Vegetable Gardening
- Composting
- Trees and Shrubs
- Plant Pathology
- Lawn Care
- IPM
- Native Plants
- Perennials & Annuals
- Pruning
How do I become a Master Gardener?
By successfully completing the training program and then volunteering your time through the program's volunteer activities.
For more information, contact Steve Allgeier
Last updated: 08/27/2009
April Tip of the Month
April marks the beginning of the mowing season. How short and how frequently you mow your lawn is very important. Cool season grasses like tall fescue, creeping fescue, ryegrass and bluegrass should be maintained at 2.5-3.0 inches. Try not to remove more than one third of the leaf surface at any one time, repeated mowing that removes this much of the blade will ruin the lawn. For example, if the desired mowing height is 2 inches, do not allow the turf to grow higher than 3 inches before mowing. White or tan colored grass blade tips are an indication that the blade is dull. Keep your blade sharp and leave the grass clippings where they lay. After the 1st mowing is a good time to sharpen your mower blade(s). “Grasscycling” eliminates bagging labor and adds organic matter and nitrogen to your soil. Contrary to what some gardeners think it does not contribute to thatch build-up.