Baltimore County Master Gardeners of University of Maryland

Baltimore County Master Gardeners of University of Maryland Baltimore County Master Gardeners teach sustainable, effective, home gardening & landscaping practices. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Our goal is to engage the community and enhance the health of Maryland’s ecosystems and waterways. Accommodation request, contact your local UMD Extension Office at least two weeks in advance. We encourage you to share your comments and ideas. We value and respect diverse viewpoints and welcome productive dialogue within our Terp community. However, comments created on this platform by other users

and not by the university do not reflect the opinions or views of the University of Maryland. Furthermore, we retain the discretion to remove comments for any lawful reason, including but not limited to comments that:

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This page is not monitored 24/7. If you have an emergency, please contact the appropriate authorities. Press the Learn More button and join our mailing list for monthly newsletters with timely articles and information on BCMG programs and classes.

06/03/2026

On Bay-Wise Wednesday, let's talk about Habit 1: Recycle organic yard and kitchen waste on-site. Consider using the dry leaves you raked into a corner of your yard last fall as mulch for your garden beds. These leaves (hopefully from native trees!) recycle nutrients, improve stormwater absorption, and create habitat. Learn more about using natural mulch at https://go.umd.edu/mulch-matters

Wednesday mornings are Hunt Valley Demonstration Garden work sessions! You can find many MGs in the garden at this time,...
06/03/2026

Wednesday mornings are Hunt Valley Demonstration Garden work sessions! You can find many MGs in the garden at this time, if you are hoping to pick someone's brain.

Say hello to Clematis viorna, an herbaceous perennial vine often called leatherflower or vasevine. Native to the central...
06/02/2026

Say hello to Clematis viorna, an herbaceous perennial vine often called leatherflower or vasevine. Native to the central eastern US, it attracts bees and hummingbirds. You can find this specimen at Mt. Cuba Center!

Happy Mystery Monday! Are you familiar with this pink and yellow bloom? It was found during a 2025 BCMG field trip to Mt. Cuba!

Did you know our Demonstration Gardens include a thriving orchard designed as a “living classroom”? 🍎🌳What began in 2017...
06/02/2026

Did you know our Demonstration Gardens include a thriving orchard designed as a “living classroom”? 🍎🌳

What began in 2017 with a few apple trees has grown into a diverse orchard filled with fruit trees, berries, pollinator plants, and sustainable gardening practices. From espaliered apples and pawpaws to food forests and hügelkultur beds, this inspiring space shows how productive and beautiful home orchards can be.

Read more about it, and come explore the orchard to discover ideas for growing your own backyard harvest! We are having a free hour-long orchard seminar on June 6th at 10am. We would love to see you there.

Happy Mystery Monday! Are you familiar with this pink and yellow bloom? It was found during a 2025 BCMG field trip to Mt...
06/01/2026

Happy Mystery Monday! Are you familiar with this pink and yellow bloom? It was found during a 2025 BCMG field trip to Mt. Cuba!

The only one that is still okay to attend is the one Sunday afternoon.
05/30/2026

The only one that is still okay to attend is the one Sunday afternoon.

🌱Yoga on the Lawn - Saturday (8AM-9AM) - Stretch, breathe, and unwind with free community yoga on the lawn led by a yoga instructor from Coppermine Health and Fitness. No registration required.
🌱NEC Drop-In - Saturday (11AM-12PM) - May’s theme, Habitats of Cylburn Arboretum, explores the diverse environments that make up the Arboretum’s landscape. No registration required.
🌱Garden Drop-In - Sunday (2:30PM-4:30PM) - Drop by the gardens to see what we’re working on and pick up expert gardening tips. No registration required.

This week, a lovely property in Cockeysville was certified. Owned by Anna and David, this property is in the Loch Raven ...
05/29/2026

This week, a lovely property in Cockeysville was certified. Owned by Anna and David, this property is in the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed. They have constructed an impressive deer fence, installed beautiful raised beds to grow vegetables, and have gotten rid of a myriad of invasives. They are gradually adding all kinds of native plants to their garden beds. What a joy it was to visit their property! Want to certify your yard as Bay-Wise? Check out the Bay-Wise program here: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/baltimore-county/home-gardening-master-gardeners/

Hoping to become Bay-Wise certified yourself, but not sure where to start? Attend our upcoming virtual presentation all ...
05/28/2026

Hoping to become Bay-Wise certified yourself, but not sure where to start? Attend our upcoming virtual presentation all about the Maryland Living Landscape Metric on Tuesday, June 2nd at 6pm. We'd love to see you online! Register here: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/APH5W_t5S5qdkwsUyHMlkw

Congratulations to Ryan of Towson (Loch Raven sub-watershed of Gunpowder watershed), who not only recently passed his test to finish coursework to become a Master Gardener, but also had his home landscape certified as Bay-Wise. Ryan received a particularly high score on his Maryland Living Landscape Metric (MLLM) because he very effectively recycles yard and kitchen waste with composting, manages water on his property with redirected downspouts and a lovely stream restoration, and conserves and plants lots of native plants. Because he does not use pesticides and plants for continuous blooms his yard is a haven for pollinators. Thanks, Ryan. You will be a great Master Gardener!

05/27/2026

RESTORING NATURE: Spraying pesticides for mosquitoes seems like an easy solution, but that procedure is not particularly effective. Fogging affects only about ten percent of adult mosquitoes and not their larvae, while killing pollinators and many beneficial insects as well.
Strategies for enjoying your yard without spraying include:
• Using fans on a patio or deck to keep mosquitoes at bay
• Wearing pants and long sleeves
• Applying a mosquito repellent with DEET, Picaridin, Lemon Oil of Eucalyptus, or IR-3535 (Merck 3535)
• Applying permethrin to clothing only (clothes, boots, shoes) or buying clothes pre-treated with permethrin

Address

1114 Shawan Road
Cockeysville, MD
21030

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(410) 887-8090

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