One of the great, free resources available to gardeners in Northern Virginia are the plant clinics sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). If you have a gardening problem or question, you can visit the plant clinics at select farmers markets, public libraries, and special events to get answers to your questions and solutions to your dilemmas. All are staffed by volunteer Master Gardeners who have received training from the VCE to answer general gardening questions; questions about pests, diseases, or weeds; and identify plants.

Fairfax County Master Gardeners providing free advice at the American Horticultural Society’s Plant Sale
In addition to the free plant clinics, there are two other places to go for your gardening challenges if you live in Fairfax or Arlington County or the City of Alexandria. There is an Arlington VCE office at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, and a Fairfax VCE office at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1050 of the Pennino Building. Call the Fairlington help desk at (703) 228-6414, between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday, year round, or visit in person, or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com. Or call the Fairfax help desk at (703) 324-8556, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, April through October, or visit in person, or e-mail at mgfairfax@vt.edu (hours are Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm November through March). Other Virginia counties have similar resources, this link provides the contact information for each county’s VCE office http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/index.html.
Additional resources, including recommended books, are on the “Plant Problems” page on my website at http://www.pegplant.com.
2016 Schedule of VCE Plant Clinics
Location | Address | Day/Time | Date |
Annandale Farmers Market | Mason District Park 6621 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA 22003 |
Thursday 9:00 am – 12 noon |
May – September |
Arlington Farmers Market | N. 14th St. and N. Courthouse Rd | Saturday
8:00 am – 11:00 am |
April – September
|
Arlington Central Library | 1015 N. Quincy Street
Arlington, VA |
Wednesday
6:45 to 8:45 pm |
March – October |
Burke Farmers Market | 5671 Roberts Parkway Burke, VA |
Saturday 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
May – September |
Chantilly Library | 4000 Stringfellow Rd Chantilly, VA 20151 |
Saturday 10:30 am – 1:30 pm |
May – September |
Del Ray Farmers Market | E. Oxford & Mt. Vernon Ave. | Saturday
8:30 am to 11:00 am |
May – September |
Fairfax City Regional Library | 10360 North Street Fairfax, VA 22030 |
Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm |
May – September |
Falls Church Farmers Market | City Hall Parking Lot 300 Park Ave Falls Church, VA 22046 |
Saturday 9:00 am – 12 noon |
May – September |
Government Center Farmers Market | 12000 Government Center Pkwy Fairfax, VA 22035 |
Thursday 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
May – September |
Herndon Farmers Market | 777 Lynn Street Herndon, VA 20170 |
Thursday 9:00 am – 12 noon |
May – September |
Kings Park Farmers Market | 9000 Burke Lake Rd. Burke, VA 22015 |
Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm |
May – September |
Kingstowne Farmers Market | Kingstowne Town Center Alexandria, VA 22314 |
Friday 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
May – September |
Lorton Farmers Market | 8990 Lorton Station Boulevard Lorton, VA 22079 |
Sunday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon |
May – September |
McLean Farmers Market | 1659 Chain Bridge Road McLean, VA 22101 |
Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon |
May – September |
Mt. Vernon Farmers Market | Sherwood Library 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane Alexandria, VA 22306 |
Wednesday 9:00 am – 12 noon |
May – September |
Oakton Library | 10304 Lynnhaven Place Oakton, VA 22124 |
Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm |
May – September |
Old Town Alexandria
Farmers market |
301 King Street, Alexandria | Saturday
7:30 to 9:45 am |
May – September |
Reston Farmers Market | Lake Anne Village Center 1609 Washington Plaza N Reston, VA 20190 |
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon |
May – September |
Richard Byrd Library | 7250 Commerce Street Springfield, VA 22150 |
Tuesday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm |
May – September |
Vienna Farmers Market | Faith Baptist Church 301 Center St. S. Vienna, VA 22180 |
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon |
May – September |
Wakefield Farmers Market | 8100 Braddock Road Annandale, VA 22003 |
Wednesday 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
May – September |
Special Event: Spring Garden Market |
American Horticultural Society 7931 E Boulevard Dr Alexandria, VA 22308 |
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | April 8-9 |
Special Event: Earth Day |
US Geological Society 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr Reston, VA 20192 |
10:30 am – 2:00 pm | April 21 |
Special Event: Springfest |
Lorton Workhouse Center 9601 Ox Rd Lorton, VA 22079 |
to be determined | April 23 |
Special Event: Spring Fling |
Walker Nature Center 11450 State Rte 4721 Reston, VA 20191 |
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | May 7 |
Special Event: Southgate Community Day |
Southgate Community Center 12125 Pinecrest Rd Reston, VA 20191 |
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | May 7 |
Special Event: 4H Fair |
Frying Pan Park 2709 West Ox Rd Herndon, VA 20171 |
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | August 6-7 |
Special Event: Vale Days |
11528 Vale Road Oakton, VA 22124 |
to be determined | October 15 |