Learn to Garden from the Experts

If you’ve ever wanted to understand why your tomatoes fail every August, which plants actually thrive in Northern Virginia’s clay soil, or how to build a pollinator garden that works, the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia are your best resource. This organization of trained volunteers works through Virginia Cooperative Extension to deliver public education programs across Arlington and Alexandria entirely free or at minimal cost. Their workshops cover everything from container gardening, composting, and lawn care to native plant selection, spotted lanternfly identification, and organic vegetable growing — with a YouTube channel of nearly 200 recorded classes and an average of 13,700 monthly views for those who can’t attend in person.

Beyond workshops, Master Gardeners staff plant clinics at Arlington farmers markets and public libraries where you can bring photos or specimens and get expert, research-based advice on whatever’s happening in your garden. For those who want to go deeper, the Arlington/Alexandria Extension Master Gardener Training Program runs each fall — about 60 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction that leads to certification as a volunteer Master Gardener. Find the current workshop calendar, plant clinic schedule, and training program information at mgnv.org.