For the week of April 13, 2026
https://extension.psu.edu/franklin
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND EVENTS: Penn State Extension is pleased to continue providing quality education via various webinars and recordings. If you have difficulty registering online for these live webinars, please contact Penn State Extension’s customer service team at
1-877-345-0691. Most of these webinars will be recorded and available for later viewing as well. Continue searching our website, extension.psu.edu, for the latest offerings.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 – September – The Garden Hotline is open for the gardening season. Master Gardener volunteers will staff the Garden Hotline at the Extension office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, from April 7 through the end of September to assist home gardeners with gardening questions and problems. The Garden Hotline will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Home gardeners are welcome to stop in or call the Extension office at 717-263-9226 to speak to a Master Gardener. The Garden Hotline can also be reached via email at franklinmg@psu.edu. Samples or photos of plants, insects, or garden problems are helpful to the Master Gardeners in assisting you with identification, diagnosis, and recommendations to solve your gardening questions. They may not always know the answer immediately, but they will take the time to research and get back to you with accurate, reliable information.
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – How to Plant a Tree – Join Penn State Extension Master Gardeners for “How to Plant a Tree,” an in-person workshop featuring both classroom instruction and a hands-on demonstration of proper tree planting techniques.
Preregistered participants will receive a free potted tree seedling to take home at the conclusion of the workshop. The cost for this workshop is $15 and will take place at the Ag Heritage Building (lower level), 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. For additional information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-plant-a-tree or call 1-877-345-0691.
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM – Container Garden for Pollinators – Penn State Master Gardeners will host two inperson pollinator container gardening workshops on May 2, 2026, at Penn State Extension Franklin County, 181 Franklin Farm Lane in Chambersburg.
A familyfriendly session will be offered at 10:00 a.m., followed by an adult-focused workshop from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Both sessions invite participants to create a colorful container garden featuring flowers and herbs that attract butterflies, bees, and other vital pollinators.
Designed for gardeners of all experience levels—including those with limited outdoor space—the hands-on workshops emphasize the importance of pollinating insects and guide participants in selecting host plants for larval stages and nectar plants for adult insects. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge and a complete container to support pollinators at home.
All necessary supplies are provided, including a 14inch container, potting soil, plants, and one application of fertilizer. To register online for the family-friendly workshop at 10 AM, go to https://extension.psu.edu/container-garden-for-pollinators-family-edition. For the adult-only group at 1 PM, go to https://extension.psu.edu/container-garden-for-pollinators. You can also register by telephone at 717-877-345-0691.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Free Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing – Penn State Extension is offering free canner lid testing on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 10 AM to 2:00 PM at the Franklin County Extension Office, located at 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. There’s no need to bring your entire canner; just bring the lid. No sign-up is required. If you can’t attend on these dates, you can drop off your canner lid and pick it up later. A Master Preserver will be on staff to answer questions and provide guidance on safe canning practices. If you have questions, please contact the Extension Office at 717-263-9226.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Franklin County Master Gardener Plant Sale – The sale will take place at 425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Master Gardeners will offer a fantastic selection of greenhouse-grown vegetable plants, annual flowers, and herbs, including hard-to-find and unusual varieties. Additionally, there will be a wide assortment of sun- and shade-loving perennials, groundcovers, shrubs, and trees, all available at reasonable prices.
Feel free to bring your gardening questions and seek advice from friendly, knowledgeable Penn State Master Gardener volunteers. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming sale, please call the Penn State Extension Office at 717-263-9226.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM – “Tomato Blight or Something Else?” Webinar – Late blight is a devastating disease of tomato, but not all spots or discoloration are caused by this disease. In this practical, grower- and gardener-focused webinar, participants will learn to distinguish late blight, early blight, and other common foliar diseases of tomato, while gaining strategies for effective management to protect plants and improve productivity. This webinar is offered at no cost. A $10 registration fee is required to receive PA pesticide recertification credits. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/tomato-blight-or-something-else.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM – “Oak Wilt, Bacterial Leaf Scorch, or Something Else?” Webinar – Many factors can cause oak leaves to scorch, wilt, and defoliate, making accurate diagnosis challenging. This webinar will help participants distinguish between oak wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, and abiotic stressors such as drought by focusing on key symptoms and field patterns. Timed to coincide with the onset of these issues, the session offers practical guidance on field evaluation, sampling, and management strategies. Participants will build confidence in diagnosing oak health problems and learn about free tools and resources to support accurate identification and effective management. This webinar is offered at no cost. A $10 registration fee is required to receive PA pesticide, International Society of Arboriculture, Society of American Foresters, and Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association credits. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/oak-wilt-bacterial-leaf-scorch-or-something-else.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – “Strawberry Disease Identification for Commercial Growers” Workshop – Join Penn State Extension for a hands-on workshop designed to help commercial growers accurately identify strawberry diseases in the field. Using real plant samples, participants will learn to recognize key diagnostic features and distinguish among common issues affecting strawberry health and yield. Each attendee will receive a high-quality hand lens and disease photo guide that they will use during the workshop and take home for their farm! Earn pesticide credits while building confidence in your diagnostic skills to support effective disease identification and management. The registration fee is $30 and will take place at the Penn State Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located at 1446 Auction Rd, Manheim, PA. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/strawberry-disease-identification-for-commercial-growers or call 1-877-345-0691.
Monday, October 6, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – “Stop the Rot: Combating Onion Bacterial Diseases” Webinar – Join this session for an inside look at “Stop the Rot,” a six-year research project focused on understanding and managing bacterial diseases of onion. Lindsey du Toit, chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University, will discuss how a nationwide team of scientists identified key pathogens, documented copper-tolerant strains, and developed practical strategies to reduce losses from bacterial bulb rots. Participants will gain insight into how these findings apply to growers, gardeners, and others interested in plant disease management, with relevance extending to additional bacterial plant diseases. This webinar is offered at no cost. A $10 registration fee is required to receive PA pesticide recertification credits. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/stop-the-rot-combating-onion-bacterial-diseases.
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