Penn State Master Gardeners of Blair County

Penn State Master Gardeners of Blair County The mission of the Penn State MG program is to support the Penn State Cooperative Extension by utilizing research-based information to educate the public.

Who we are
Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Once they complete their training, Master Gardeners help the Extension better serve the home gardening public by answering questions, speaking to groups, working with 4-H horticultural projects, participating in civic beautification, maintaining demonstration gardens, teaching plant sciences and horticultur

e, maintaining this web site, and in many other ways. Master Gardeners are willing and able to educate individuals and groups in gardening topics such as plant selection, composting, soil improvement, pest control, vegetable and flower gardening, pruning, and more.

🐞🦋 Insect Week is Here! 🐝🪲Celebrate the amazing world of insects by exploring Penn State Department of Entomology offers...
06/22/2026

🐞🦋 Insect Week is Here! 🐝🪲

Celebrate the amazing world of insects by exploring Penn State Department of Entomology offers an Insect Image Gallery! It's a great resource for identifying the bugs, butterflies, beetles, and pollinators you find in your backyard and garden.

🔍 Check it out and see how many you can spot this week!

Images contributed by individuals committed to the enhancement of teaching and learning. The images may be freely used by faculty, students, and staff for noncommercial educational purposes.

Poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines often share the same space, climbing fences, trees, and woodland edges. Both provi...
06/19/2026

Poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines often share the same space, climbing fences, trees, and woodland edges. Both provide important food and shelter for wildlife and birds. 🐦🌱

But can you identify which plant causes an irritating rash? Mary Alice Koeneke
Master Gardener, Butler County offers insightful information on identifying these vines.
Penn State Extensionhttps://extension.psu.edu/virginia-creeper-and-poison-ivy-identification-with-control

Poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines often share the same space. Both are important food resources for wildlife and birds. Can you identify which plant causes an irritating rash?

No Garden Space? No Problem! 🍅If you do not have a lot of space — or just want to grow a special tomato plant on your ba...
06/17/2026

No Garden Space? No Problem! 🍅

If you do not have a lot of space — or just want to grow a special tomato plant on your back stoop or patio — this article provides useful tips for growing tomatoes in containers. 🌱🪴

Learn about choosing containers, watering, fertilizing, and helping your tomato plants thrive all season long! ☀️📚

Tomatoes are probably the #1 container vegetable that interests gardeners after herbs.

Squash plants can attract several common garden pests, especially during the warm summer months. Here are a few insects ...
06/15/2026

Squash plants can attract several common garden pests, especially during the warm summer months. Here are a few insects gardeners often watch for:

🟠 Squash Bugs – These pests suck sap from leaves and stems, causing plants to wilt and yellow.
🪲 Cucumber Beetles – Small yellow or striped beetles that feed on leaves and can spread plant diseases.
🐛 Squash Vine Borers – Larvae tunnel into squash stems, often causing sudden wilting.
🕷️ Aphids – Tiny insects that cluster on leaves and stems, weakening plants by feeding on sap.
🦗 Spider Mites – Very small pests that can cause speckled or yellowing leaves during hot, dry weather.

Regularly checking leaves, stems, and flowers can help catch problems early. Healthy plants, companion planting, and pollinator-friendly gardens can also help support natural pest control. Denise D’Aurora Master Gardener, Crawford County provides detailed information on this topic.

There are a variety of insect pests that may affect home gardeners' squash, pumpkin, melon, and cucumber crops. These crops are collectively members of the Cucurbitaceae and are called cucurbits.

In celebration of Flag Day- Why Are Bearded Irises Called Flags?The name "flag" comes from an Old English word meaning r...
06/14/2026

In celebration of Flag Day- Why Are Bearded Irises Called Flags?

The name "flag" comes from an Old English word meaning reed or rush, referring to the iris's long, sword-shaped leaves. While bearded irises grow in gardens rather than wetlands, the nickname has been passed down through generations. For more information about the German Bearded Iris check out this article

The German bearded iris is a relatively carefree old-fashioned pass-along plant that can find a home in your garden. Pollinators love it!

What’s the Difference Between Downy Mildew and Powdery Mildew? 🌿They may sound alike, but these common plant problems ar...
06/12/2026

What’s the Difference Between Downy Mildew and Powdery Mildew? 🌿

They may sound alike, but these common plant problems are very different! Read this article to learn how to spot the differences between downy mildew and powdery mildew, what causes them, and how to manage them in your garden.

Downy mildew and powdery mildew are two plant diseases that begin to affect gardens in the spring.

Celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day! 🌽Nothing says summer quite like fresh sweet corn! Want to learn more about growi...
06/11/2026

Celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day! 🌽

Nothing says summer quite like fresh sweet corn! Want to learn more about growing your own at home? The University of Maryland Extension offers helpful information on home corn production, including planting tips, care, and harvesting advice.

Check it out here: Growing Sweet Corn in a Home Garden https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-sweet-corn-home-garden/

Fresh-picked corn tastes even sweeter when you grow it yourself!

Growing sweet corn in the home garden

Dealing with Powdery Mildew? 🌿Learn about the conditions that favor powdery mildew, how to recognize the symptoms, and w...
06/08/2026

Dealing with Powdery Mildew? 🌿

Learn about the conditions that favor powdery mildew, how to recognize the symptoms, and ways to manage and prevent it in your garden. Check ou these informative articles on the subject.

Powdery mildew occurs on many different flowers, woody ornamentals and trees.

Learning something new is always fun, even when it's outside your usual interests! 🐝The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rec...
06/08/2026

Learning something new is always fun, even when it's outside your usual interests! 🐝

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently designated 1.5 million acres of critical habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee. Want to learn more about these important pollinators? Check out the Bumble Bee Atlas and discover how you can help track and protect native bumble bees! Check this out https://xerces.org/news/organizational-news/us-fish-wildlife-service-designates-15-million-acres-of-critical-habitat?fbclid=IwY2xjawSOUqRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe6lVP5jS-izdRo2h6kBohNtWUTKjqHyFDX4hUZJ72B5eVUALIC5sdG-4tjls_aem_lry8JzkcAMCPuR3k995jCQ

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a historic decision to designate more than 1.5 million acres of critical habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. The species was first petitioned for listing by the Xerces Society in 2013.

Companion planting is a hot topic this time of year! 🌼🥕🌿Did you know certain plants can help each other grow? From attra...
06/06/2026

Companion planting is a hot topic this time of year! 🌼🥕🌿

Did you know certain plants can help each other grow? From attracting pollinators to helping deter pests, companion planting has been used by gardeners for generations.

Clint Harwig, a Penn State Master Gardener from Adams County, offers insight into this age-old gardening method and shares helpful tips for planning your garden naturally.

At its core, companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together so they can benefit one another.

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266 Aviation Way
Martinsburg, PA
16662

Telephone

+18149405996

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