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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 Gardeners Mark Kleinhenz and Doug Croson meeting with a client during a SMART Lawns visitMaster 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: SMART Steps: Soil Conditions, Measure, Aerate, Right Fertilizer, Trouble-free Maintenance

Fee  (includes soil sample and analysis)

SMART Lawns Details for more information.

SMARTScapes

April 1 to September 30

Layered garden of flowering plants and shrubs providing wildlife habitatThe 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.

Master Gardeners walking a garden path during a SMARTScapes site visitThis 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)

SMART Scapes Details for more information.