OUR PUBLICATIONS
Here are several publications with how-to information that can help with your gardening needs. Several of these are Know to Grow guides produced by a team of Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in Mecklenburg County.
If you're looking for plant-specific information, a great resource is NCSU's Plant Toolbox. It has detailed descriptions and photographs of over 4,000 plants that grow in and another North Carolina. Check it out!
The Basics
This is a must-read! By choosing plants that are well-suited to a location, they'll perform well with limited work on your part.
Plant tags are filled with helpful information that will help you select the right plants for your landscape, and give you details on how best to care for your plants.
Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening. The first step to cultivating healthy soil is having your soil tested. Samples submitted between April 1 and the end of November are analyzed free of charge. A peak season fee of $4 per sample is charged for each sample submitted between December 1 and March 31. You can pick up soil test kits at the Extension office at 2415 Lester St. in Charlotte, and at Renfrow's Hardware in Matthews.
We are going to geek out a little in this guide; but hopefully, when done, you'll have a better understanding of the Soil Analysis Report and what it means for improving your soil and the health of your plants.
What can you do with clay soil? It's comprised of very fine mineral particles and not much organic material. The resulting soil is quite sticky since there is not much space between the mineral particles, and it does not drain well at all. Learn how to make it work for your gardening and lawn needs!
This guide can help you keep your landscape healthy with sound management practices. It discusses proper establishment and maintenance practices as well as monitoring and targeted treatment of pests.
Invasive plants pose a serious disruption to natural ecosystems in North Carolina and around the world. Find out why and ways you can make a difference!
Pruning Trees & Shrubs
This guide introduces basic pruning concepts and key terms.
Here, you'll find tips on selecting the right tool for the job and for evaluating a tool’s quality.
This guide provides techniques and tips that will enable you to prune just about any landscape plant.
Here you'll find information on each plant’s function in the landscape, tips on what type of pruning the plant can tolerate, and the best time to prune in the Southeast.
Certified, trained arborists can advise homeowners on tree issues. Additionally, pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees. See this resource by the International Society of Arboriculture.
Do you have a crape myrtle tree in your landscape? Don't be guilty of committing 'Crape Myrtle!' See this handout for tips to correctly prune this tree.
Hydrangea selection, pruning and care
Pruning is key to the successful blooming of every hydrangea species and can easily be accomplished if you know your plant and make the proper cuts are made at the right time of year. Check this handout for guidance.
Vegetables & Herbs
Looking for an easy-to-read guide for when to plant annual vegetables, fruits and herbs? We've got you covered! See this planting calendar for every item you can grow in North Carolina! Look for the "P" which stands for Piedmont area.
Whether you're starting with seeds or transplants, this guide covers key steps! It also lists plants for late summer/early fall planting.
Vegetable planting guide for school gardens
Growing a school vegetable garden opens the door for students to understand where their food comes from and why it's important to eat vegetables. This guide gives a-z steps.
Pollinators, Beneficial Insects, Wildlife
This guide covers ways to help pollinators thrive. It also gives resources for children's activities.
Beneficial insects can be divided into four basic types: predators, parasitoids, decomposers/recyclers and pollinators. Learn about threats to these insects and ways you can help them thrive.
This is an easy-to-read guide on butterflies. It includes common butterflies of North Carolina, using native plants to attract butterflies to your garden and creating a butterfly habitat. You'll also see a list of host and nectar plants for butterflies.
Bees of North Carolina: An identification guide
This is a beginner’s resource designed to help quickly and generally identify native bees in North Carolina. The guide will help users learn to recognize bees according to key characteristics and, eventually, according to their overall appearance.
Learn about plants that attract hummingbirds (see the list!). This guide also offers advice about hummingbird feeders, water, shelter and nesting.
Creating a Winter Habitat for Wildlife
How can you attract a variety of wildlife to your landscape during the winter months? Shelter, food and water can be critical to helping wildlife survive. Keep a journal of your observations!
A bee hotel is a structure used to assist solitary bees with nesting and laying of eggs. Find out why you should consider adding a bee hotel to your landscape.
More Resources
Fall Planning and Preparing for Spring Gardening
This guide provides a checklist of things to address in your garden during the fall -- for example, dividing perennials, collecting seeds and planting cover crops for the winter. You will also find a list of questions to help you plan for spring.
It's a great way to grow annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs, whether you’re short on space, don’t have a lot of time, are new to gardening, or simply want an easy way to add to your existing garden area.
Yard waste makes up 20% of our landfills. Composting offers an eco friendly, cost-saving solution, allowing us to recycle yard waste back into our yards, benefiting our environment, our gardens, and our budgets.
Learn more about composting with worms, including benefits, types of bins and maintenance.
Landscapes that embrace xeriscape ideas feature a variety of plants and garden styles that are less vulnerable to drought and water shortages. This guide offers steps to consider for your property.
NC Extension Gardener Handbook
This is a primary source for research-based information on gardening and landscaping successfully in the Southeast. It explains the “why and how” basics for every gardening subject from soils and composting to vegetable gardening and wildlife management.
You can view the online version here. If you prefer a hard copy or eBook, see details about the cost and how to order.
