NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Wake County

06/17/2026

𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐞𝐬 – 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞?

Pruning helps maintain a balance between vegetative (leaves and stems) and reproductive (flowers and fruits) growth and improves airflow. Removing the lower leaves (6 – 12”) helps prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing up when raindrops splatter. Pruning early damaged or diseased leaves or branches is also essential for the health of the plant. Remove tomato clippings and do not allow them to drop at the base of the plant which could. contribute to further disease.

Beyond removing lower leaves, determinate, or bush varieties, require little pruning. They grow to about 3-4 feet and then set large numbers of fruit in a relatively short time on clusters between leaves and the end of stems. Branches that form between the main stem and leaves can be removed to improve airflow but this is less important in determinate varieties than indeterminate.

Indeterminate tomatoes will continue to grow as long as the plant is healthy and may reach eight or more feet long and produce fruit until the first frost.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐞𝐬?

• 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 – if the plants outgrow their support, the main stems may break. Pruning suckers will prevent the plant from becoming too heavy.
• 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Pruning to maintain one or two main stems allows closer spacing so more plants can be grown.
• 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰 – Plants that grow into a dense, crowded cluster will be at risk for disease.
• 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 (except cherry) – Limiting the number of fruits allows the remaining fruit to grow larger.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞?

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 – these are the stems growing at a 45-degree angle between the main stem and the leaf stem. Suckers should be removed when they are small, no more than two to four inches in length. Allowing them to grow larger wastes plant resources.
• 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥. Clean and disinfect pruning shears between plants with a dilute 10% solution of bleach.
• 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 to achieve your objective – suckers become new main stems, and flower clusters grow off the main stems. Removing too many suckers will reduce production.

06/13/2026

As we enter Stage 2 of water shortage, this is great advice. ♥️

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭

𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕-𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭. With water restrictions likely to increase if rainfall deficits persist, gardeners may be asking how to insure their gardens survive. Here are a few tips that might help:

• 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: No new plants, no fertilizing, no pruning, except to remove dead or dying branches. Plants which are stressed from lack of rain must concentrate on retaining moisture, not putting forth growth.

• 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐜𝐡: Mulch all vegetable, flower, and landscape beds with a 4″ layer to conserve water, keep soil temperatures cool, and prevent weeds from competing with desired plants.

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: Prevent weeds from competing with plants for moisture.

• 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭: It is less stressful for grass to go dormant than to be active and drought-stressed. Do not mow unnecessarily.

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 stressed by disease or insects to reduce competition for water with healthier plants.

• 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐟. Water the entire root zone, not the leaves. Water in the morning (6am - 10am) before heat rises to limit loss by evaporation.

• 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 promotes deeper roots and greater drought tolerance.

• 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, which survived and which did not.

• 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 consider grouping plants with similar water needs to make it easier to care for them in the next drought.

•𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 to drought conditions. Select drought-tolerant plants to replace those that died.

Photo credit and additional information on current conditions: https://ncdrought.org

06/12/2026

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭

𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕-𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭. With water restrictions likely to increase if rainfall deficits persist, gardeners may be asking how to insure their gardens survive. Here are a few tips that might help:

• 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: No new plants, no fertilizing, no pruning, except to remove dead or dying branches. Plants which are stressed from lack of rain must concentrate on retaining moisture, not putting forth growth.

• 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐜𝐡: Mulch all vegetable, flower, and landscape beds with a 4″ layer to conserve water, keep soil temperatures cool, and prevent weeds from competing with desired plants.

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: Prevent weeds from competing with plants for moisture.

• 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭: It is less stressful for grass to go dormant than to be active and drought-stressed. Do not mow unnecessarily.

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 stressed by disease or insects to reduce competition for water with healthier plants.

• 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐟. Water the entire root zone, not the leaves. Water in the morning (6am - 10am) before heat rises to limit loss by evaporation.

• 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 promotes deeper roots and greater drought tolerance.

• 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, which survived and which did not.

• 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 consider grouping plants with similar water needs to make it easier to care for them in the next drought.

•𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 to drought conditions. Select drought-tolerant plants to replace those that died.

Photo credit and additional information on current conditions: https://ncdrought.org

06/09/2026

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐬!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡'𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 will be at community centers to hand out 𝟓 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 and answer questions about the upcoming transition to weekly Enhanced Yard Waste Pickup for Raleigh residents. Pickup will be from 11am – 2pm on the following dates and locations:

June 10th: Abbotts Creek Park, 9950 Durant Road

June 17th: John Chavis Memorial Park, 505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

June 24th: Carolina Pines Park, 2305 Lake Wheeler Rd

July 1st: Lake Lynn Park, 7921 Ray Road

06/08/2026

June is pollinator month! A month dedicated to the creatures that pollinate our flowers and crops that keep us fed. In honor of those amazing creatures, all month long we will be chatting with you about the importance of pollinators and featuring some pretty cool ones that you may not have heard of! If you see a pollinator out in the wild, be sure to thank them. And if you’re interested in attracting pollinators to your garden, check out this extension publication: https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/attracting-birds-beneficial-insects-other-wildlife/pollinators-and-other-beneficial-insects/

06/04/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟔𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟎𝐚𝐦 – 𝟐𝐩𝐦

The 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 is a free, family-friendly event celebrating 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤. Enjoy games, crafts, and learn from local environmental experts about the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem. There will be tasty food trucks and fun activities for all ages.

𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 will be available to provide information and answer your questions about pollinators and how to attract them to your garden.

06/02/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞

𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐬

• Control bagworms – clip them off tree limbs and drown bags in soapy water.
• Deadhead roses that rebloom. Watch for Japanese beetles – handpick them from plants in early morning or evening when they are sluggish and drop them in a container of soapy water. Watch and spray for black spot if needed.
• Feed rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias after they finish flowering with an acid-loving fertilizer. Hydrangea varieties that bloom on old wood may also be finished blooming this month.

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬

• Water as often as daily for new plants. Water deeply to encourage deeper roots and make plants more drought-resistant.
• Stake tall perennials for support.
• Deadhead perennials to increase blooms.
• Remove brown foliage on spring-flowering bulbs.
• Fill empty spaces in the garden with annuals and fertilize regularly with liquid fertilizer once flowering begins.

𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬

• Harvest squash and cucumber. Fertilize vegetables with a long growing season (e.g. tomatoes and eggplant). Work nitrogen-based fertilizer into the soil near the base of the plant.
• Watch for powdery mildew on cucumber, melon, squash, and pumpkin and for blossom end rot on tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon.
Lawns
• Limit fertilizers and avoid herbicides on cool-season lawns during the summer months. For both cool and warm-season lawns, water 1” per week in the early morning.
• Apply post-emergent herbicides to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Watch for grub eggs hatching. Monitor for brown patch, leaf spot, and fairy rings.

For more tips and helpful information, check out the link in the first comment below.

05/29/2026

𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!

On May 28th, Cindy Chappell, one of our very own Master Gardener volunteers, was inducted into the 𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞.

Cindy became an Extension Master Gardener volunteer in 2008, making this her 18th year of service. During this time, she has amassed 𝟑𝟔𝟕𝟑 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 through a variety of programs. She is most known for her work at booths at the State Fair and the Farmer's Markets.. She is always willing to lend a helping hand maintaining our demo gardens and has delivered countless programs at the Southern Ideal Home Show, JCRA, and through our Speaker's Bureau at many of our local gardening groups. She is truly the model Master Gardener, friend to all, and the perfect person to be inducted into the Wake County Volunteer Hall of Fame.

Cindy was honored alongside 4-H volunteer Beth Morgan and ECA member Sarah Ellen Sanders for outstanding service in their respective programs.

Photo Credit: Deanna Bigio

05/23/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐞𝐬

Supporting tomato plants improves airflow, keeps leaves and fruits off the soil and can increase yields. Tomatoes touching the ground can rot and be subject to animal damage and soilborne diseases.

All types of tomato plants can benefit from a support system. Add support such as stakes, cages, or trellises as soon as you plant. Adding supports later may damage the plant’s root system. Continue to secure the plant to the supports as it grows.

Indeterminate (vine) tomatoes can be supported by stakes, trellises or overhead systems. Staking maximizes sunlight to the plant and can lead to earlier fruit set and larger fruits. However, staking may expose the soil to drying which may lead to higher incidences of blossom end rot compared to non-staked tomatoes. Care should be taken to watering the soil (not the leaves).

Smaller types such as determinate or dwarf tomatoes can be supported with stakes, cages, or with a basket weave arrangement. Caged tomatoes may produce crops later than vines grown under other support systems. Tomatoes grown in cages are better protected from sunburn and may produce more crack-free fruits compared to vines grown under other support systems.

Tomato cages are available at garden centers or can be home made from stiff 9 or 10 gauge wire.

Use soft materials such as twine, old stockings, strips of old t-shirts, or stretchable garden tape to tie the vines or stems to the supports.

Photo credit: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension

05/16/2026

Inaugural Urban Pest Field Day!

4000 Chi Road, Raleigh, NC 27603
Saturday, June 6th, 9:00AM - 3:00PM