Agriculture and Natural Resources
Soil Testing
We have soil test kits available for pick up at our office. The kit includes a box and the form to fill out to have your sample analyzed, along with instructions on how to take a good sample. You mail your sample and payment to Virginia Tech and they send you the results in 10-14 days. The current price for analysis is $10 each for lawn and garden samples. Please come by or call for more information.
2011 Plant Clinics
Are you having problems with your lawn or garden? Is something eating your roses? If your plants are not doing well or if you are being pestered by a particular insect pest or plant disease, you can learn what it is and get recommendations to control the pest or improve the health of your plants… for free! The Stafford County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office is here to help you. Bring your questions or problems to our office and a trained horticulture technician or the ANR Extension Agent will find an answer and a solution to your gardening questions and problems.
In addition, you can speak to one of our Master Gardeners the Plant Clinics in operation during the growing season to help you with you questions. Current Plant Clinics are in operation at the following sites and times:
Stafford County
- Porter Library Plant Clinic, 2001 Parkway Blvd.
April 7 through August 25
Tuesday evenings; 6:30pm to 8:30pm
- Falls Run Plant Clinic, Falls Run Community Center, 101 Bridgewater Circle
February 6 through November 14
Monday mornings; 8:30am to Noon
- Celebrate by Dell Webb Plant Clinic
June 1 through August 31
Wednesday mornings; 8:00am to Noon
Spotsylvania County
- Gordon Rd. Farmers Market Plant Clinic, Gordon Rd./Rt. 3 Commuter Lot
April 23 through September 24
Saturday mornings; 9:00pm to Noon
- Salem Church Library Plant Clinic, 2607 Salem Church Rd
February through April 12
Tuesday evenings; 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Fredericksburg City
- Fredericksburg Farmers Market, Hurkemp Park, William Street
April 23 through September 24
Saturday mornings; 9am to Noon
King George County
- King George Farmers Market Clinic
May 21, June 18, July 16, August 27, September 17
These Saturday mornings; 9:00 to 11:00am
TMaster Gardener Program
Do you have an interest in horticulture and want to learn more? Are you looking for a way to improve your community through volunteer service? Do you enjoy teaching and talking to the public?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, Master Gardener volunteer opportunities may be right for you.
Virginia Cooperative Extension-Master Gardeners come from all walks of life. They are a group of enthusiastic volunteers linked by their love of gardening.
Master Gardener volunteers donate 20 hours of their time a year to provide gardening and horticulture expertise to our community. Their expertise is drawn from their training, their rich personal experiences, and the research of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, Virginia’s land grant universities.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener please call or e-mail the office to be put on our interest list. This year's course will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning in mid September and ending in late November. Applications will be sent out to interested individuals in August.
Becoming a Master Gardener Brochure
Or visit the Master Gardener Association website at http://www.mgacra.org/