Yard & Garden

Learn how to construct habitats to shelter wildlife and create biodiversity for your garden. Wild creatures are always looking for accommodations such as bug snugs, toad abodes, insect hotels, hedgerows, and brush piles.

This introductory class covers the essentials of hydroponics and aquaponics, including nutrients, grow mediums, system types, and a bit of history. We'll explore the benefits, challenges, similarities, and differences of these systems. 

Bring a little more green into your life with this fun and beginner-friendly introduction to houseplant care! Learn the basics of watering, lighting, fertilizing, soil mixes, and pest prevention while discovering how to help your plants truly thrive. Whether you’re brand new to houseplants or looking to grow your confidence as a plant parent, this class will give you practical tips for creating a happy indoor jungle.

Learn the best time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. We will study their branching patterns and learn where and how to prune. We will also discuss the proper time to prune flowering shrubs that will encourage greater flowering!

To help native bees and other pollinators, your garden must meet their basic needs for food, water, shelter and a healthy place to raise their young. The Master Gardeners’ Pollen-Aiders Program recognizes homeowners whose pollinator gardens meet these needs by giving them a free sign and including them in the Pollen-Aiders Alumni. Learn about the Pollen-Aiders program, how to qualify for a free sign and become a Pollen-Aiders alumni member.

Learn to harvest, clean, and store seeds from your best-performing plants to build a self-sustaining garden. You’ll leave with the skills to preserve various varieties and stop depending solely on commercial suppliers!

Join the Talbot County Master Gardeners for a hands-on workshop about saving seeds from the garden, how to store them. Learn seed saving techniques and more about our local Seed Library.

If you require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Talbot Extension Office at 410-822-1244 or mboley@umd.edu by August 7th.

Master Gardeners will be at the Mill at Kingstown with our Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinic that will focus on Pollinators. Learn what pollinators need and how easily you can provide it. Some steps are as simple as leaving the leaves or switching out a patio lightbulb. To make that very switch, they will have an insect-friendly lightbulb to offer the first 20 visitors to their tent (one per household, thank you). Everyone can protect pollinators!

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

Learn about the fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management: A sustainable approach to managing pests that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks. From choosing ideal plants to common garden pests, the basics of IPM will be covered in this free, one-hour virtual class with Home Horticulture Educator Lexie Leeser. 

Do you have vegetables, flowers, or herbs that you want to grow again next year? Don't waste the money on more seeds, learn how to save what you have for next year! Join us for this Seed Saving Workshop. Bring your (heirloom) vegetables, flowers, and herbs and our experienced Master Gardeners will help you harvest and store seeds for the future! We will provide materials needed for harvesting and storage, but feel free to bring your own (jars, envelopes, pruning shears, mesh strainer, etc.)!