VCE Loudoun Master Gardeners

08/07/2026

Some welcome news for the garden!

Due to recent rains, DEQ and the Drought Monitoring Task Force have de-escalated the drought warning in 15 counties and 10 cities to a drought watch. We have maintained all other existing drought advisory statuses.

Read more in our full press release below 👇

08/06/2026

Register for the Invasive Plant workshop with the link attached! https://forms.gle/tLaEFAdRaY2gkLYi6

08/03/2026

Still plenty of time to plant!

Have you got plans for your garden this month? August is a busy time for planting! 🌞🌱

Direct Sowing:

Zones 6A & 6B: Beets, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Rutabaga, Spinach, Turnips

Zone 7A: Beets, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Radish, Rutabaga, Southern Pea, Summer Squash, Turnips

Zone 7B: Beets, Carrots, Swiss Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Rutabaga, Southern Pea, Summer Squash, Turnips

Zone 8A: Bush Beans, Beets, Carrots, Collards, Kale, Cucumber, Eggplant, Salad Lettuce, Mustard, Okra, Peppers, Southern Pea, Summer Squash, Turnips

Zone 8B: Check the publication linked below!

Transplanting:

Zones 6A & 6B: Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Head Lettuce

Zone 7A: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Head Lettuce

Zones 7B & 8A: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leeks, Head Lettuce, Tomatoes

Zone 8B: Check the publication linked below!

You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide
To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

07/15/2026

Late July is a great time to keep the garden growing!

For us here in Loudoun County (Zone 7a), there’s still plenty of time to get another round of direct sown seeds in the ground. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener planting guide, now is the time to sow:

• Bush beans
• Carrots
• Swiss chard
• Collards & kale
• Rutabaga
• Summer squash (our featured pick!)

Summer squash is one of the best late-July crops because it grows quickly and can begin producing in as little as 45–60 days. With warm soil and long summer days, plants establish fast and often provide an abundant harvest before the first fall frost.

When sowing seeds during the heat of summer, keep the soil evenly moist while plants become established. A layer of mulch helps conserve moisture and keeps roots cooler during hot weather, but don’t mulch directly over where you buried the seeds.

07/09/2026

Even with the summer heat, our Master Gardeners continue to keep our Demonstration Garden thriving!

Last week, volunteers harvested green and red cabbage, rhubarb, Swiss chard, and garlic, cleaned out the cabbage bed, staked peppers, weeded throughout the garden, watered containers, refreshed the birdbaths, completed another round of compost turning, and even got the fountain back in working order. Thursday’s workday was canceled for everyone’s safety due to the extreme heat.

This week, the work continues with curing garlic for storage, planting buckwheat as a cover crop, harvesting more vegetables, training peppers and summer squash, pruning and fertilizing tomatoes, evaluating the clematis, maintaining ornamental beds, watering containers, and keeping the birdbaths full for our feathered visitors.

Gardening Tip: When is the best time to water during hot weather? Early in the morning! This allows more water to soak into the soil before it evaporates and gives plants the moisture they need to handle the heat of the day.

06/24/2026

06/24/2026

Did you know oak trees are pollinator powerhouses? No other plant group supports more butterflies and moths. More than 500 pollinator species rely on oaks to complete their life cycle. Without oaks, many pollinators would not be able to survive.

05/29/2026

How will Loudoun County meet growing energy demands while protecting the natural resources that make our county special?

Join the 2026 Energy & Environment Forum: “Powering Loudoun” TOMORROW, Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Academies of Loudoun (42075 Loudoun Academy Drive, Leesburg).

The forum will feature a keynote address from the Chair of Virginia’s State Corporation Commission, offering insights into energy policy, utility regulation, and the challenges facing Virginia’s electric grid. Attendees will also hear from experts representing industry, environmental organizations, utilities, and local government during panel discussions focused on meeting Loudoun’s growing energy needs and balancing energy development with environmental stewardship. The event concludes with a community town hall where residents can share their perspectives on Loudoun’s energy and environmental future.

This free event is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage in the conversation about the future of energy and sustainability in Loudoun County. Learn more at -

The Loudoun County Environmental Commission hosts an annual forum for the community to explore a variety of topics related to energy and the environment.

05/26/2026

Over the last two weeks, Master Gardener volunteers in the demonstration garden at Ida Lee Park have been hard at work preparing for the summer growing season and keeping the gardens looking their best!

In the vegetable garden, beds were prepared for summer planting, trellises and supports were installed for climbing crops, squash was transplanted, potatoes were hilled, cucumber and pole bean areas were readied, and pathways, and several beds received needed weeding and maintenance.

Throughout the ornamental areas, volunteers completed general cleanup and weeding, edged the west border, pruned freeze-damaged boxwoods, cleaned up the pollinator bed, repainted the children’s garden steppingstones, refreshed the rain barrel screens, and weeded around the water cabana and bird garden.

We also had a few exciting signs of wildlife in the garden — a bird’s nest discovered in the pollinator bed was carefully left undisturbed, and the bluebird house near the bird garden is now occupied!

Thank you to all the volunteers who continue to help maintain and improve the demo garden each week.

05/16/2026

What if the future of plant health care isn’t about doing more, but diagnosing better?

The tree care industry is shifting toward a more intentional, diagnostic approach to PHC, focusing on soil health, root causes and long-term tree preservation instead of quick fixes. From advanced diagnostics to smarter workflows, arborists across the industry are redefining what proactive care looks like.

Read how leading professionals are changing the conversation around PHC and why this shift could mean stronger outcomes for trees, clients and businesses alike - https://hubs.li/Q04gkwsV0