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Homeowner Consultations
Homeowner consultations — including SMART Lawns and SMARTScapes — are offered by Henrico County Master Gardeners through the Henrico Extension Office.
SMART Lawns
April 1 – August 15
Master Gardener volunteers will come to your Henrico County home to collect a lawn soil sample, measure your total lawn area and provide an individual assessment of your residential lawn. Once we receive the results of your soil analysis, we will formulate a Nutrient Management Plan that will tell you the right kind of fertilizer to apply to your lawn at the right rate and at the right time.
Improving the quality of a home lawn requires knowledge about five basic aspects of turf management. That’s why we have based our lawn care program on five “SMART” steps:
Fee = $30. (includes soil sample and analysis)
Click here for more information and an application.
SMARTScapes
April 1 to September 30
The SMARTScapes program includes a visit to your Henrico County residence by trained Master Gardener volunteers who can discuss best management practices for a beautiful, healthy and sustainable landscape. This includes a focus on conservation practices to restore and protect our local watersheds, including reducing the use of water, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides.
This visit will last approximately one hour. Soil sampling will not be included with the visit, but you will be provided with a soil sampling kit that you can submit on your own. The Master Gardeners will prepare a reference folder customized for your landscape, which will include a map of your property, fact sheets on current plantings, general gardening information for our area, and more. Program participants will also receive the book “Native Plants for Virginia’s Capital Region: Plant RVA Natives A Capital Idea!”
The volunteers will evaluate and answer site specific questions regarding your property, such as:
- Why are the plants in my yard not thriving?
- What plants will grow well in my area of Henrico County?
- What plants are on my property and how do I take care of them?
- How can I improve the sustainability of my landscape?
- How can I create habitat for beneficial wildlife like birds and bees?
Fee = $10. (covers the cost of supplies, materials and personalized guide)
Click here for more information and an application.