Greetings! Thank you for visiting the Marion County Master Gardener Association website. The MCMGA is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping home gardeners in Marion County learn about the science, art, and joy of gardening by providing a variety of education and outreach programs. You can find Master Gardener volunteers at the Extension Office Plant Clinic, educational workshops, local Farmers’ markets, and other Master Gardener events.

The Master Gardener Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm and volunteers are available to answer your questions. Our office is in the Marion County Extension Office at 1320 Capitol St NE, Suite 100, Salem OR 97301. You can also email questions along with your pictures to: mcmga.helpdesk@gmail.com.

 This Month’s Tips

• Prepare and prime irrigation system for summer
• Use a soil thermometer to help you know when to plant vegetables. Wait until the soil is consistently above 70 degrees to plant tomatoes, squash, melons, peppers, and eggplant
• If needed, fertilize rhododendrons and azaleas with acid-type fertilizer. If established and healthy, their nutrient needs should be minimal. Remove spent blossoms
• Manage weeds while they are small and actively growing with light cultivation or herbicides. Once the weed has gone to bud, herbicides are less effective

Program Highlights