Penn State Extension - Northampton County

10/08/2026

Master Watershed Steward’s dedication helps conserve natural resources | Penn State University

We're proud to have volunteers, like Stefanie Green. Bertsch-Hokendauqua-Catasauqua Watershed Association

With a background in environmental biology, Stefanie Green, of Northampton County, has always been interested in understanding and maintaining the natural environment. After joining the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program, she put her skills and program resources to use.

10/07/2026

Registration for our Spider plant workshop is closing soon. Register today to claim your spot!

🌱🕷️Spider Plants Made Simple: Care, Propagation, and Potting

Learn spider plant care and propagation through hands-on practice, including watering, light, soil, container selection, and troubleshooting common issues.

📅When:
October 17, 2026
(10:00 AM-12:00 PM)

📍Where:
Penn State Extension Lehigh County
4184 Dorney Park Rd.
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104

Price: $12

Registration deadline:
October 10, 2026
11:45 p.m.

🌱Who is this for?
Home gardeners of all experience levels, including beginners

🌱What will you learn?
Care and propagation of spider plants
Basic care practices, including light, watering, soil, and container selection
Strategies for maintaining healthy plants indoors
Common problems and how to correct them

🌱About The In-Person Workshop
Discover how to grow and propagate one of the most popular and beginner-friendly houseplants in this hands-on workshop. Learn the essentials of spider plant care, including light, watering, soil, and container selection, as well as practical techniques for maintaining healthy indoor plants. Participants will explore how to successfully propagate spider plant plantlets, commonly known as "babies," and gain guidance on proper separation, planting, and early care. The workshop will also address common challenges such as leaf tip browning, overwatering, and crown rot. Through a guided hands-on activity, participants will pot a spider plant plantlet while building confidence in caring for and propagating spider plants.

Space is limited. Preregistration is required.

🚨Register Today!
https://extension.psu.edu/spider-plant-care
or 877-345-0691

10/01/2026

🍂 Happy October 1st! Gardening season is still going strong.

Here is our October Garden Task List:
🌳 Keep planting: Fall is still a great time to plant trees, shrubs and many perennials — and to divide or relocate established perennials.

🌷 Plant spring-flowering bulbs: Get daffodils, tulips, crocus and alliums in the ground now for spring color.

🧄 Plant garlic: In Pennsylvania, mid- to late October is traditionally a good time to plant garlic for next year’s harvest.

🌱 Start a new garden bed: Fall is an ideal time to sheet mulch an area you’d like to turn into a flower or vegetable bed next spring.

🪴 Protect tender plants: Bring tender container plants indoors, protect tropicals, and dig and store tender bulbs before freezing temperatures arrive.

🌾 Save some seeds: Collect mature seeds from favorite flowers and native plants for future planting — while leaving some seedheads for the birds.

🐝 Don’t clean up too much: Standing stems, seedheads and fallen leaves can provide valuable winter habitat, while diseased plant material should still be removed.

🧪 Test your soil: Fall soil testing gives you time to understand your pH and nutrient levels and plan ahead for spring.

What’s still on your October garden to-do list?

09/28/2026

As solar development continues to reshape rural and semi-rural landscapes across the Commonwealth, Penn State Extension has launched an in-person workshop in Northampton county.

Designed for municipal officials, planning commissioners, landowners, agricultural producers, and residents, the program addresses the multifaceted legal, regulatory, and land-use challenges stemming from large-scale solar installations.

This event is FREE but space is limited. Please sign up at the link below.

09/28/2026

Take a closer look at the project behind our First Place statewide award. 🌿🏆

This 2-minute finalist video highlights the Louise Moore Park Pollinator Habitat Demonstration Garden project, which received First Place in the Demonstration Gardens category for the 2026 Penn State Extension Master Gardener David Gibby Search for Excellence Awards.

We’re proud to share how this certified pollinator habitat has grown into a living classroom for native plants, pollinators, wildlife, and the community. 💚

09/24/2026

When planting buffers in horse pasture areas, be sure the plants included are safe for horses.

09/24/2026

🍁Create a beautiful autumn centerpiece with the Master Gardeners of Lehigh and Northampton Counties using a combination of natural and artificial materials. Learn which natural materials are recommended for harvesting, along with tips for designing, creating, and caring for your centerpiece. Take home your finished creation to enjoy throughout the season.🍁

When:
October 24, 2026
(1:00 PM-3:00 PM)

Where:
Penn State Extension Lehigh County
4184 Dorney Park Rd.
Allentown, PA 18104

Registration deadline:
October 19, 2026
11:59 p.m.

Price: $25

🍁Who is this for?
Gardeners of all ability levels interested in learning how to incorporate natural materials into an autumn centerpiece

🍁What will you learn?
Recommended natural materials for use in a centerpiece, including when to harvest and how to prepare them
Information on the life cycle of select materials, including how they develop seeds to reproduce
Design, creation, and care of the centerpiece

🚨Register https://extension.psu.edu/create-an-autumn-centerpiece

Photo by Master Gardener Caitlin Wyeth Galligan, workshop materials may vary