Derwood Demo Garden

The Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens, located at the Agricultural Farm History Park, Derwood MD, are open to the public from dawn until dusk, 365 days a year for self-guided tours. 
To schedule guided tours by a Master Gardener, call 301-590-2842 Monday – Friday, 9 am to 1 pm, March though October. To view our most recent soil test results, click here.  To sign up for recording data for the Broccoli Research Project, click here (team members only.  Contact Janet Young if interested.)

These sustainable gardens demonstrate what the homeowner in Montgomery County can do on his/her own with minimal effort and a high probability of success, considering local climate, soil, and pests. A general brochure covering all the gardens is located in the mailbox at the main gate to the gardens

The best time to visit the gardens is mid June through mid September. However, the Shade Garden has substantial year-round interest, especially mid to late spring. This garden is located in the wooded area next to the storage sheds and outside the other gardens that are behind the deer fence.

The types of gardens are:

• Autistic children’s garden (in cooperation with 4H)
• Butterfly attracting/support garden
• Children’s interest garden
• Composting operation
• Conservation garden
• Fragrance garden
• Herb garden
• Kitchen Garden
• Ponds
• Shade garden
• Therapeutic Horticulture garden
• Turf plots
• Vegetable garden

These gardens support a variety of educational purposes, as follows:

• Use of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) approach to minimizing environmental impact
• Participation in Agricultural Farm History Park events to broadly contact county residents, including children
• Plant identification and brochures on what’s in the gardens
• Therapeutic horticulture with plant materials for Master Gardener programs at hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities; and provide supervised gardening experience once a week for autistic children/young adults in cooperation with 4-H and Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAC)
• Cooperative efforts with the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds Garden
• Site visits for garden clubs and other organizations
• Educate ourselves with hands-on activities

Master Gardeners work on our gardens every Tuesday 8 AM-12 PM April through November. Come and watch and ask questions, or simply tour the Demonstration Gardens located at 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD 20855 (link is external).