Newcomer’s Guide to
Gardening
By the Master Gardeners of Arlington and
Alexandria in partnership with the Virginia
Cooperative Extension
Section One
What You Need To Know
Local Quick Facts
Local Quick Facts
• Arlington & Alexandria Virginia are in Zone
7 of the Zone Hardiness Map
• Last frost date in the Spring is 4/10 to 4/21
• First frost date in the Fall is 11/8 to 11/28
• Average rainfall in this area is about 40
inches per year
• Clay soils and how to amend them
• Mulching-reasons and resources
Clay Soils
• Clay is the dominant soil in our area
• Get a soil test from your VCE office
It is easy to do, inexpensive and provides valuable information on
your soil
• Amending Clay with organic matter is a
must! Compost, topsoil, manure, and fertilizer should be worked
into the top 4-6 inches before planting, followed by a layer of mulch.
This amends soil by improving aeration, nutrients and minerals
available to plants, and drainage providing an improved soil for
planting in. Other elements may need to be added also as per
recommendations on soil test results.
Mulch & Compost
• Why mulch?
Mulching helps your plant beds in many ways. A layer of mulch
applied each fall protects plants over the winter, reduces weeds in the
spring, retains moisture in soil, and improves soil quality by amending
soil as the mulch breaks down. Using mulch actually can save you
time and money-it retains moisture in the beds and reduces your time
spent watering.
• Free Mulch & Compost
Free Leaf Mulch in Arlington is available for pickup at N. 26th
Street near Glebe Road and Marymount University and at the Arlington
Trade Center on S. Arlington Mill Drive. For home delivery (at a fee),
call 703-228-4570 for recorded message. In Alexandria free Leaf Mulch
is available for pickup at the Eisenhower Avenue composting site near
Clermont Avenue. For home delivery and cost, contact the Recycling
Center at 703-751-5872.
Example of poor
muching practices
Always leave root flare
exposed. Only 2-3” of
mulch necessary.
Section Two
Cultural & Integrated Pest
Management Practices
Cultural & Integrated Pest
Management Practices
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Beneficial Insects-benefits and identifying
Plant Selection-how to choose
Pesticides-proper use of
Watering-efficient practices
Sanitation-preventing disease and infestation
Planning-three season color
Weed Control-control methods
Composting-how to
Soil Improvement-recommendations
Beneficial Insects
• Good bugs aid the gardener in many ways. They aid in production of
flowers by pollination, destroy various weeds, improve soil
conditions, and prey on harmful insects in the garden. Some good
bugs are Ladybugs or Ladybeetles, Lacewings, Praying Mantis,
Bees and many Wasps, Assassin Bug and all of their larvae are
beneficial feeding on many harmful bugs.
Good bugs
Good Bugs
Control Methods
• Handpicking by inspecting plants often and turning leaves over to
examine you can spot many potential threats to your plants. Insect
traps, baits, repellents and Biological Controls can be very effective
when used properly after an accurate assessment of harmful
insects. Ask the Master Gardeners for help with this..
Bad Bugs
• Japanese Beetles
both larvae and adults
• Aphids
• Lacebugs
• Mites
• Caterpillars & Worms
• Adelgids
Bad Bugs
Predators & Parasites
• Take advantage of natural predators, parasites, and pathogens that
are already in your garden-encourage spiders, toads, and
dragonflies. Learn to recognize eggs and larvae of beneficial
insects including parasites and egg cases. An example of this is the
tomato hornworm. This colorful caterpillar is a pest to your tomatoes
but is often seen with a number of white egg cases on it's back. A
parasitic wasp lays these eggs on the caterpillar that will ultimately
kill it when the wasp eggs hatch. So leave this one alone and more
wasps will emerge to benefit your garden. Many wasps are
important pollinators too
Predators and Parasites
• Beneficial Nematodes
Plant Selection
• Choose the right plant for your growing
conditions-sun,shade or part shade, wet or dry,
protected or exposed areas, and evergreen, deciduous,
perennial and annuals in your garden.
• Choose disease and insect resistant species
and varieties, as well as award winners-don’t be
afraid to ask a Master Gardener or Nursery staff for
recommendations.
• Select healthy well developed plants with good
root systems
• Buy from reputable source
Well Developed Root Systems
• Check the plant
before you buy it!
• Carefully remove the
root ball from the
container or ask a
staff member to do it
for you to examine
the roots
Pesticides
• Always follow manufacturer label instructions
• Only use as needed-don’t apply them to everything in
your garden if only one or two plants are affected.
Pesticides used incorrectly can be very dangerous and harmful.
They can harm and kill beneficial insects, worms, birds and other
wildlife, as well as pose a serious health risk to humans. They can
also leach into and contaminate groundwater, upset the balance of
your soil and increase resistance in pests.
• Make sure to correctly identify pest before treating and
apply as recommended by the Master Gardeners
Watering
• 1 Inch per week is recommended, this wets soil 5-6
inches deep
• Water less often but deeper and promotes healthy root
development.
• Water your lawn at night for best absorption and less
evaporation
• Water your garden in the morning allowing plants time to
dry before nightfall and prevent many fungal diseases.
• Stay out of the garden when the soil is wet-this prevents
the spread of disease on shoes and compaction of the
soil.
• Use drip irrigation system if possible for best efficiency
Sanitation
• Clean up and remove all garden waste.
This includes leaves, dead stalks of
flowers, trees and shrubs, spent flower
heads and seeds, dead annuals and
infected plant material. Many pests and
diseases over winter in these materials
and infection can be prevented by
maintaining a clean garden.
Planning
• By doing some planning you can maximize your garden
enjoyment and make use of three or even four seasons.
You can design your plantings so that you have color
and interest all year long. By choosing the right plant for
the location in your garden you will have thriving plants
and spend less time and money replacing them.
• Use a planting plan or diagram. This is very helpful
when you go out, buy new plants and are trying to find a
spot in your garden for them. It will help you avoid
digging up something that you forgot was there.
Weed Control
• Weeds often harbor pests and compete for
nutrients and water, as well as being
unsightly
• Control Methods-handpicking selected
weeds, spot application of appropriate
weed killer after you have identified the
weed, and pre-emergence weed killers
Composting
• Components of a good compost pile are: a good base to
allow for drainage and airflow, even moisture, proper
ratio of green/Nitrogen to brown/Carbon is 1:3, regular
turning and aeration of pile
• Patience will be rewarded. Composting is a natural
process that does take some time. Finished compost
needs to age a few months before use.
• Work compost into soil to improve soil quality and plant
vigor and performance
• Its free, easy and rewarding
Compost Bin Designs
Soil Improvement
• Get a soil test
• Add Organic Matter to your soil and work it in to
the top 4-6 inches
• Maintain slightly acid soil PH 6.5
• Use chemicals and fertilizers sparingly and only
after careful analysis to ensure correct
application-too many or the wrong ones can do
extensive damage and upset the natural balance
of the soil
Section Three
Do’s and Don’ts
Lawns, Trees, Shrubs &
Perennials
Do’s & Don'ts
Lawns
• Don’t spend money on unnecessary fertilizers and lawn services
before getting a soil test from the Extension Service.
• Do fertilize with a slow release nitrogen fertilizer and only in the fall;
prevent forced growth, disease, and chemical runoff into our natural
water systems.
• Don’t collect your grass clippings; leave them on the lawn to
decompose and provide free nitrogen fertilizer.
• Do water only once a week in summer if rainfall has not been one
inch; water in the morning to prevent disease and promote deep
roots.
• Don’t mow lower than 2-1/2 to 3 inches; let the grass shade its own
roots and crowd out weeds and reduce Japanese Beetle larvae.
• Do consider relatively low-maintenance ground covers for areas
such as slopes where it is difficult to mow or shady areas where it is
difficult to grow grass.
Do’s & Don'ts
Trees
• Do surround trees with mulch to protect them from
mower and trimmer damage.
• Don’t mulch within 3-6 inches of the trunk; prevent bark
rotting and rodent access.
• Do use permeable paving set on stone dust rather then
in cement for paths and patios to reduce run-off and
increase the water that reaches tree roots.
• Don’t discard the leaves you collect in the fall; chop
them up with your mower and compost them for future
use as nutrient-rich mulch or soil conditioner.
• Don’t top your trees to reduce their height; consult a
certified arborist.
Don’t Top Your Trees!
Do’s & Don'ts
Shrubs and Perennials
• Do select non-invasive varieties that will do well in this
area under the specific conditions in which they will
grow, e.g. sunny or shady, wet or dry.
• Do group plants with similar requirements together and
mulch them to conserve moisture and your energy.
• Do select healthy plants that will thrive in the location
you will put them in.
• Do ask for help in making selections-the more
information you have the better.
Section Four
Resources
Resources
• Virginia Cooperative Extension, Fairlington Community Center, 3308
S. Stafford St., Arlington. Phone 703-228-6400
(www.offices.ext.vt.edu/arlington). Has knowledgeable staff that can
offer advice on local conditions, pest management, plant and insect
identification; has specific brochures and flyers available for the
public; runs the Master Gardener program as well as the Hortline
(see below); can provide information on soil testing as well as soil
test kits.
• Horticultural Line (Hortline) /call or walk-in clinic located at Extension
Office, Room 12, Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford
St., Arlington. Monday-Friday, 9 am-noon. Phone: 703 –228-6414.
Call with questions and/or bring in gardening samples for help
identifying, diagnosing problems, etc.
Master Gardener Program
• Classes are given January through March on Tuesday
and Thursday mornings, 60 hours of classroom training
plus 60 hours of volunteer work. Contact Virginia
Cooperative Extension, at 703-228-6400. Master
Gardeners operate on a volunteer basis and their main
function is to help educate the public and encourage
gardeners. They volunteer at plant clinics, HortLines,
demonstration gardens and assist people in diagnosing
and recommended treatments for plant related problems
and pests.
Farmers Markets and Plant Clinics
• Arlington, at N. 14th and Courthouse Rd. On Saturday mornings, 811 am from mid-April to late Sept. Master Gardener volunteers are
available to answer gardening questions. Call 703-228-6423 for
information.
• Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market and Plant Clinic located at the
Alexandria Market Square on King Street, on Saturdays from 6:309:00 am May through September
• Del Ray (Alexandria) Farmers Market and Plant Clinic on Saturdays,
May through September, from 8:30-11:00 am. Located at the corner
of East Oxford and Mt. Vernon Avenues in Alexandria.
• Arlington Central Library Plant Clinic in the East Lobby, 1015 N.
Quincy Street, on Tuesday evenings, April-October, from 7 to 9 pm
Master Gardener Hard at Work
• The HortLine is a
service the Master
Gardeners provide to
answer questions
homeowners have
about plants,problems
and what to do about
them
Soil Testing, Garden Clubs, Community
gardens, Local Garden Centers
• Soil testing-The Virginia Cooperative Extension office has
information and mailing instructions for sending soil samples to
Virginia Tech for analysis and recommendations.
• Garden Clubs-contact the National Capital Area Federation of
Garden Clubs at www.ncafgardenclubs.org or call 202-399-5958, or
contact your neighborhood civic association for information
• Community Gardens-available for those without access to a yard,
these gardens are available for a nominal rental fee. Contact the
Virginia Cooperative Extension for more information on 703-2286426
• Garden Centers-check yellow pages in telephone directory, under
Garden Centers and Plants-Retail; Home Depot and Lowe’s carry
gardening equipment, supplies, and plants; many fine nurseries,
some with several locations, such as Campbell & Ferrara, Hybla
Valley, Behnke Nurseries, Merrifield Garden Center, Burke Nursery
Demonstration Gardens
• Demonstration Gardens are gardens with a theme that are
maintained by Master Gardeners and open to the public
• Waterwise Garden, E. Monroe Avenue at Simpson Park in
Alexandria, demonstrates a low-maintenance garden in an exposed,
dry area
• Simpson Park Gardens, E. Monroe Avenue at the end of Leslie
Avenue, past the YMCA, in Alexandria contains butterfly, scented,
and tufa gardens
• Organic Vegetable Garden at Potomac Overlook Regional Park on
Marcey Road in Arlington has a greenhouse and demonstrates
organic gardening techniques
• Rock Quarry Garden at Bon Air Park on Wilson Blvd and N
Lexington Street in Arlington is a garden with rocks, slopes, shade,
sun, and part-shade
• Sunny Garden, also at Bon Air Park in Arlington, illustrates the
variety of plants that thrive in the sun
Arborists, Mulch & VCE Offices
• Arborists-check yellow pages under Tree Service (look for a certified
arborist), call the Virginia Cooperative Extension, or ask neighbors
for a recommendation. Also visit www.goodtreecare.com for a CA in
our area.
• Free Mulch in Arlington is available for pickup at N. 26th Street near
Glebe Road and Marymount University and at the Arlington Trade
Center on S. Arlington Mill Drive. For home delivery (at a fee), call
703-228-4570 for recorded message. In Alexandria free mulch is
available for pickup at the Eisenhower Avenue composting site near
Clermont Avenue. For home delivery and cost, contact the Recycling
Center at 703-751-5872.
• Websites
• The Virginia Cooperative Extension (www.ext.vt.edu) website at
Virginia Tech for Arlington and Alexandria specifically, contact
www.offices.ext.vt.edu/arlington
Websites & Information
• U.S. National Arboretum (www.usna.usda.gov)
• American Horticultural Society and Garden (www.ahs.org)
• National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs
(www.ncafgardenclubs.org)
• American Horticultural Society and Garden-7431 E. Boulevard
Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308. 703-768-5700. Website: www.ahs.org.
• Green Spring Gardens Park at 4603 Green Spring Road,
Alexandria, VA 22312; 703-742-5173. Five acres of gardens,
wonderful horticultural library, educational programs. Website
(www.greenspring.org) has a list of recommended plants for the DC
area.