NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County

03/17/2026

March Madness: Flexibility in Monthly Maintenance

The saying that “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” captures the change from winter to spring. This year in Buncombe County, March began with warm, spring-like weather and abruptly reversed back to winter conditions. This unpredictability requires flexibility in scheduling our gardening activities. What needs to be done in March? Are you eager to complete some garden clean-up!?...

The saying that “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” captures the change from winter to spring. This year in Buncombe County, March began with warm, spring-like weather and abruptly…

03/16/2026

Many of us are thinking about planting our gardens soon but what are some of the soil conditions were need to be aware of? One of the most important is soil compaction. When we receive a lot of rain in the spring and then try to plant gardens or other plants when the soil is very wet, it causes soil compaction. There is a very easy test to do and it involves just taking a handful of soil and squeezing it together to make a ball. If it does not fall apart, then the soil is too wet to plant. See the link for more information on wet soil and compaction .......

Fall is an excellent time to amend vegetable garden soils by adding organic matter or cover crops to help alleviate soil compaction issues during the growing season.

03/03/2026

2026 Spring Fling Plant Sale: Save-the-Date, May 16

Save-the-Date! Mark your calendar and get ready for the 2026 Spring Fling Plant Sale, sponsored by the Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County and the Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose…

03/02/2026

It's March and I have many spring bulbs blooming in my yard. Like many of you, I am anxious to get out in my yard and start gardening. Below is a list of garden chores that can be performed during the month of March........

VEGETABLES Mulch garlic and asparagus well to prevent early competing weeds from invading the beds. Early- to mid-March plant English and edible-pod peas, onions, and kale. Mid-March plant spinach,…

02/23/2026

February: Soil Temperature Matters!*

As your garden begins to wake up and you move from dreaming to digging in the dirt, it’s time to think about soil temperature. Soil temperatures are important in determining planting times, and maximizing seed germination, as well as timing the application of products such as preemergent herbicides and fertilizers. How to determine soil temperature. For a quick estimate, the…...

As your garden begins to wake up and you move from dreaming to digging in the dirt, it’s time to think about soil temperature. Soil temperatures are important in determining planting times…

02/13/2026

Gardening for the Long Haul: Creating Climate-Resilient Landscapes

What is climate resilience? When we plan our gardens, we often consider what worked or didn’t in previous years. But as the climate shifts, familiar plants and practices may no longer be effective. To keep our landscapes thriving, we need to look forward, adapting to environmental changes already underway. Climate trends in North Carolina Data from the NC State Climate Office and the…...

02/12/2026

Pruning Roses in Late Winter, February 26

The Learning Garden Presents:Thursdays in the Learning Garden Thursday, February 26, 202610 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. NC Cooperative ExtensionBuncombe County Center49 Mount Carmel RoadAsheville, NC 28806 Presenter: Sue Bumby, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer Grandiflora Rose 'Mother of Pearl' In Western North Carolina, roses are usually ‘hard pruned’ in the late winter or early spring. Dead or damaged canes are removed, and the plant is shaped for optimal growth and blooms....

The Learning Garden Presents: Thursdays in the Learning Garden Thursday, February 26, 2026 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. NC Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center 49 Mount Carmel Road Asheville…

02/07/2026

Saturday Seminar: Tool Sharpening Workshop, February 21

Saturday Seminar at The Learning Garden presents:Tool Sharpening Workshop Saturday, February 21, 2026*Session 1: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.Session 2: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. NC Cooperative ExtensionBuncombe County Center49 Mount Carmel RoadAsheville, NC 28806 Presenters: Extension Master GardenerSM VolunteersAlan Wagner – Sharpening pruners and loppersJames Wade – Sharpening shovelsJohn Fieselman – Sharpening chainsaws…...

Saturday Seminar at The Learning Garden presents: Tool Sharpening Workshop Saturday, February 21, 2026* Session 1: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Session 2: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

02/06/2026

Online Seminar: Hydrangea Happiness

Gardening in the Mountains presents:Hydrangea Happiness Thursday, February 19, 202610 a.m. to 11 a.m. Virtual attendance via Zoom video and audio internet connection Presenter: Nancy Duffy - Owner of Muddy Boots, Inc. Love hydrangeas? Join garden designer Nancy Duffy of Muddy Boots, Inc. for an engaging and informative exploration of four favorite hydrangea species: Hydrangea macrophylla, H. quercifolia…...

Gardening in the Mountains presents: Hydrangea Happiness Thursday, February 19, 2026 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Virtual attendance via Zoom video and audio internet connection Presenter: Nancy Duffy – Owner…

02/02/2026

Today is groundhog day and it looks like another six weeks of winter. While the weather is extremely cold, there are some things that we can do to get ready for spring's arrival, such as planning our gardens and ordering seeds, plants, and fruit trees. See the link the link below for a list of gardening tasks for the month of February.....

VEGETABLES * Check your seed supply before ordering more. Seeds more than a couple of years old should probably be replaced. Do a germination test if in doubt. * Start your garden plan on paper as you browse garden catalogs. Review last year’s notes or memories for what worked and how much was too...

02/01/2026

2026 School Garden Grants Available: Applications Due March 3

Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County are happy to announce for the eighteenth year we are offering School Garden Grants to Asheville City and Buncombe County public schools, including state charter schools. Planting veggie seeds, easy and fun for children We provide a notice of the application period along with instructions to all school principals, elementary through senior high. Additional information is available on our website…...

Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County are happy to announce for the eighteenth year we are offering School Garden Grants to Asheville City and Buncombe County public schools…

01/29/2026

It’s Here: Our New Website!

You might notice that our new website (buncombemastergardener.org) looks different than the old version. We’ve been hard at work creating our new site and it’s finally here - yay! The new site puts the website visitor first, with easy-to-navigate sections for Blog Posts, Upcoming Events, resources like Gardening Videos, ways to get involved with the Master Gardeners, and more....

https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/its-here-our-new-website/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=jetpack_social

You might notice that our new website (buncombemastergardener.org) looks different than the old version. We’ve been hard at work creating our new site and it’s finally here – yay! The new site puts…