Garden Committee
Small garden plots are available to residents on River Towers’ grounds at the rear of the property. The plots may be used to grow fruit, plants, flowers, and vegetables, but trees may not be planted. (See the garden rules for more information.) Garden tools are available in the garden shed. Hoses are provided as well.
To get an application (new or renewal), stop by the RT Management Office or download a copy of the new gardener application.
A $30 annual fee is payable by check or money order for a garden plot. The Chair of the Garden Committee will review applications and assign plots to residents on an “as available” basis. If you have questions, please contact the Garden Committee Chair through the Management Office.
2019 Garden Timeline
March 4—deadline for renewal applications from returning gardeners
March 15—deadline for new gardener applications
March 20—meeting of all gardeners (new and returning) at 7:30 pm in the Club Room (31 bldg.)
March 23—Spring Cleanup Day, 9 am to noon. Meet in the garden dressed for work. (Rain day fallback: March 30)
May 1 -- deadline for starting work on individual plots. The garden chair will contact you if your plot shows no sign of having been worked on by that date.
Messages from the Garden Committee Chair
(1) Please read the revised Garden Rules. A number of procedures have changed.
(2) Please take a moment to read the new garden guidelines for disposing of trash. The guidelines are posted on the fence by the trash cans. Plot E-34 has been designated a landfill for disposing of biodegradable garden trash. Please use it! Also, help yourself to anything growing there (day lilies, daffodils) that you want for your own plot.
Dianne Snyder, Garden Chair, 2/1/18
Garden News
Please email your submissions (text and photos) to Dianne.
Places to Purchase Plants
Home Depot in Mt. Vernon Plaza
Local Plant Sales
American Horticultural Society Spring Garden Market at River Farm, April 12 & 13
Mt. Vernon Historic Plant and Garden Sale, April 27 to May 27
Farmers Markets--Old Town (Saturday mornings), Sherwood Hall Library parking lot (Wednesday mornings). Some vendors sell plants and herbs.
Old Town Farmers Market (a few vendors often have plants)
Seed Catalogs
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (located in central Virginia)
Bulb Catalogs
Free Mulch
Fairfax County operates a brush grinding operation which produces double-shredded wood mulch for residents. You can pick it up at multiple locations.
If you have a friend who lives in Alexandria, you can ask them to go with you to pick up free mulch at 4215 Eisenhower Avenue.
* Note that you'll need to bring your own shovel and bucket.
Resources
Fairfax County Master Gardeners
Fairfax County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension and their Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates
Master Gardener help line at Virginia Cooperative Extension: 703-228-6414
Don't forget about your fellow gardeners. Many of the experienced gardeners are generous with their advice and tips.
