To schedule a speaker, contact UT Extension at 865-215-2340.

Speakers Bureau Topics:

Sample Speakers Bureau topics include items of general interest, including organic vegetable gardening, ornamentals (flowers and shrubs), and general topics such as composting, irrigation/watering, insects, weeds, and common diseases.

ABC's of Blueberries

Composting: Hot or Cold, Fast or Easy 

Cover Crops

Diagnosing Summer Lawn Problems

Don't Treat your Soil like Dirt

Getting Started with Herbs

Good Bug Gardening

Killer Tomatoes vs. Tomato Killers

Lawn Repair

Native Plants

Off With Their Heads!   Pinching, Deadheading and Cutting Back

Pruning   (basic rules and tools, as well as plant-specific pruning)

Propagating Plants: Making More of your Favorite Plants

Proper Planting and Care of Trees

Raised Beds: Build 'em and Fill 'em!

Safe Weed Control

Seasonal Containers

Seed Starting

Shade Gardening

Soil Preparation (Soil Testing/Soil Test Report)

Three B's: Bees, Birds, And Butterflies

Tomatoes 9-1-1

Undertree Gardens - Tough Places for Tough Plants

In 2018, the Speakers Bureau gave 50 public presentations on a wide range of gardening topics.

There were four "regular" venues in 2018 (listed below) as well as many special presentations at community gardens, special events, and garden clubs.

• Bearden Branch Library (monthly, 1st Saturday)
• Cedar Bluff Library (monthly, 2nd Saturday)
• Davis YMCA (monthly, 3rd Monday)
• Karns Senior Center (monthly, 4th Tuesday)

Total attendance at all events was over 1,500 people, for an average of just over 30 people per event.

If you are a Master Gardener and would like to share your knowledge with the Speakers Bureau - or would like to provide "behind the scenes support", please contact Marsha Lehman, using the Knox County Master Gardeners directory.