Low-Impact Gardening Lecture Series

Classes:

• Sep 10 – Understanding Soils and Plant Growth
• Sep 12 – Producing a Quality Lawn
• Sep 17 – Managing Woody Ornamentals
• Sep 19 – Landscape Pests & Their Control
• Sep 24 – Vegetable Gardening
• Sep 26 – Urban Tree Care

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Lecture 1: Understanding Soils and Plant Growth – soils are the basis for any successful gardening endeavor.  Covered are the basics of elementary soil physiology.  The ins and outs of how soils are formed and how their specific properties affect plant growth and water movement.  Soil chemistry will also be discussed with the impact of pH and nutrients on plant growth.  Plant nutrition, fertilizers and basic plant growth will also be discussed.

Lecture 2: Producing a Quality Lawn – producing a quality turf can be demanding on gardeners.  Topics covered will include warm-season turfgrass adaptation to specific sites, planting techniques, turfgrass establishment, long-term management practices including proper irrigation techniques, cultivation and turfgrass renovation.

Lecture 3: Managing Woody Ornamentals – woody ornamentals are the backbone of any landscape and proper care will assure plant success without impacting the environment.  Topics covered will include a discussion of the items needed to be considered when analyzing a site before planting, transplanting guidelines, managing newly planted and established ornamentals, 10 steps to environmentally friendly gardening, proper pruning techniques and mulching.

Lecture 4: Landscape Pest and Their Control – controlling pest in the landscape can be an ongoing problem in the south.  All landscapers should promote and follow programs that reduce the amount of chemical applications to managed sites.  Topics of discussion will include the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and pest management options, diagnosis of plant problems, safe chemical pest control, pesticide safety and an overview of local pest and their control both culturally and chemically including diseases, insects and weeds.

Lecture 5: Vegetable Gardening – Home vegetable gardening has become very popular recently.  We will discuss the entire home vegetable garden topic from getting started to harvest.  We will also cover crop selection, management and environmentally sound pest control.

Lecture 6: Urban Tree Care – managing trees located in an urban environment adds a new dimension to arboriculture.  Discussed will be the needs of the planter as well as the needs of the plant, tree selection and installation, proper establishment and long-term management, tree problem diagnosis and palm care.