The University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Centerand Master Gardener Program work together to provide you with up-to-date,science-based information and answers to your yard and garden questions.  

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2019 ANNUAL REPORT

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77%

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Edibles, houseplants, natives, trees, shrubs

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Maryland Grows was named a Regional Finalist in "Online Communications" by theNational Association of County Agricultural Agents.

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Top Question Topics

Trees & Shrubs (31.3%) Plant ID (21.31%)

Edibles (18.36%) Lawns & Turf (11.31%)

Weeds (9.13%) Insect or Spider ID (8.59%)

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1,875 peopleanswered our 2019survey

88% of respondentswere completelysatisfied or satisfiedwith our service

59% of respondentschanged a practice orbehavior

How to Send a Question

7,150 questions answered in 201913% more than in 2018;37% more than in 2017

"I am thrilled with the quick and efficient response Ireceived. I plan on sharing with all my garden club

members in our newsletter, too!"

"I very much appreciate the opportunity to receiveanswers to my questions on flora and fauna in my

vicinity. Thank you!"

"This service is invaluable to gardeners. Thank you!"

"Glad you are there. Your answer contributed toimproved quality of life. Thank you"

Sample of the comments from our survey:

Top left: UME Master Gardener volunteers working with students to plant a garden in Baltimore CityTop right: Praying mantis by Dr. Mike Raupp Bottom left: Seedlings of the Harford County UME Master Gardener volunteers at the Edgewood Boys & Girls Green Thumb Club Fall 2019 Bottom Right: UME Master Gardener volunteers working in a Bay-Wise landscape

ME Master Gardener Program

89,071People educated

$3.23 MillionValue of volunteertime to Maryland

2,371Master Gardenervolunteers

Total volunteerhours

112,788

extension.umd.edu/mg

1,086 People educated

Volunteer hours1,25610,298 People educated

Volunteer hours11,598

3,602 People educated

Volunteer hours6,76318,837 People educated

Volunteer hours9,547

People educated

Volunteer hours

2,0404,090

People educated

Volunteer hours

6,8354,468

Master GardenerVolunteer Subprograms

MGs answer your questions about plants,lawn care, landscape, and pest problems.

Learn about sustainable landscape practicesand UME Bay-Wise Maryland YardstickCertifications.

Learn all about backyard and communitycomposting, soil improvement techniques,soil testing, and fertilizer use.

MGs teach you how to produce your ownaffordable and healthy food usingsustainable gardening practices.

Learn to identify insects, attractbeneficial insects, and use safer pestmanagement practices.

Learn more about native and invasiveplants in Maryland and how to incorporatenative plants into a landscape.

MGs encouraged the next generation of gardeners to develop their greenthumb! Many of our youth programs taught students the importance ofpollinators, such as the beekeeping club in Anne Arundel County,the Pollinator Palooza in Washington County, the Student-Athletes forEducational Opportunities summer camp in PG County, and the installationof a pollinator garden at Friendsville Elementary School in Garrett County.Students at the Allegany County Fair "Youth Day" learned how to protectpollinators.

The MG program in Calvert County utilized new outreach technology toteach youth about gardening. Over 500 participants played gardening quizgames on a touch screen kiosk. Other programs, like Project Spudnik inCalvert County, the star gardens at Lexington Park ElementarySchool, Montgomery County's Close Encounters with Agriculture, and theGreen Thumb Club at Edgewood Boys & Girls Club taught youth to grow andprepare their own healthy, fresh produce.

Youth Gardening

MGs across the state reached out to non-traditional and underserved audiencesin an effort to serve all the residents of Maryland. MGs contributed to a LittleFree Library in Allegany County to provide free gardening resource books fortheir community. In Anne Arundel County, MGs help inmates in a correctionalinstitution manage a honey bee colony and harvest fresh honey.

In Montgomery County, MGs show patrons of the Manna Food Bank how to growtheir own fresh produce. MGs in Calvert County helped local churches growfresh produce in containers for their local food banks. In 2019 the MG programdonated over 8,900 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks!

Many local MG programs are working on diversity and inclusion within theirprograms. Some have formed committees to make their programs moreinclusive, both in terms of the MG volunteers and the audiences we serve. InHoward County, MGs are translating program materials into Spanish to reach outto Spanish-speaking audiences within their county, and they have shared thosetranslated materials across the state.

Underserved Audiences

Therapeutic HorticultureThe benefits of plants extend far beyond our landscapes. Plants can betherapeutic for many different audiences. MGs performed 7,519 volunteerhours in therapeutic horticulture projects in 2019!

MGs in Harford County helped the Perry Point VA Medical Center andHospital install a vegetable garden plot and start a weekly garden club. Theveterans report that being responsible for the care of the garden istherapeutic. At least two of the veterans decided to start raised gardens intheir own landscapes.

MGs in Harford County also worked with special needs adults to help themplant cuttings of their favorite houseplants to take home and grow on theirown!

2019 Success Stories

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age,national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally

protected class.

Home and Garden Information Center | UME Master Gardener Program12005 Homewood Road | Ellicott City, MD 21042 | 410-531-5556

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View online at extension.umd.edu/hgic/2019-annual-report