It’s one thing to buy a flat of annuals and plant them in an unsuitable place. They die, you're out a few dollars, and the garden center will be happy to sell you some replacements. Investing in the “bones” of the garden—the more permanent elements such as turf, trees and shrubs—can represent a major investment in money and time. You have so many decisions to make about which plant, where to put it and how to care for it. You even need to consider the results after a few years of growth. Will it become too shady for the shrubs once the trees become taller and wider? Will the grass you choose invade all your flowerbeds?
Part of my job as an Extension Educator is to help people figure these things out. There’s only one of me, but I have a secret weapon at my disposal--a veritable army of volunteers on the front lines ready and able to meet the needs of our gardening public. They’re called Master Gardeners--a highly trained, energetic and skilled group of volunteers. In our group of about 100 volunteers, we have a collective experience base of thousands of years. Master Gardeners present a series of workshops volunteers each spring and fall. Each season brings something old and something new to the list of offerings.
If you have been struggling with problem areas in your yard, perhaps the landscape workshop will help you sort things out. This one is especially useful for homeowners in a new house on a bare lot—it’s overwhelming for a new homeowner to set priorities, and plan around their time and budget. Shade from mature trees can present its own set of problems. Groundcovers and shade gardening are two topics of note in this fall’s series. Routine pruning for trees and shrubs will no longer be as big a puzzle if you attend the pruning workshop.
Over the years it’s easy to let the landscape develop into an overgrown mass of shrubs and rampant flowers and vines. Sometimes, you even buy a house with this problem—at no extra charge the seller might tell you. Newark’s older neighborhoods are full of examples of past-their-prime landscapes. Overgrown plants can cause serious structural damage, hold excessive moisture, attract pests, and just plain look bad. Who hasn’t seen the spreading juniper that’s blocked the front door? Or the upright arborvitae that towers over the roofline? Remember that cute little azalea you planted against the foundation 20 years ago? Living behind ivy-engulfed walls? How about that oak that’s doing its best to gouge a hole in the roof with its overhanging branches? These and other maladies of older landscapes are addressed in a new workshop we’re calling “X-Treme Garden Makeover.”
You don’t even have to be a large landholder to improve your gardening skills and knowledge. Gardening in small spaces such as city lots, townhomes, and balconies can be an enjoyable activity if you know the secrets to doing it well. And guess where you can get in on these secrets? A workshop on gardening in small spaces! If you would like to have more birds and butterflies in your yard, you can learn how to blend the right mix of plants and other garden features to do just that.
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension has been providing information to people on how best to manage their lawns and gardens for a long time. We have the distinct luxury of being a part of a nationwide network of universities. We can provide current up to date information, let you practice your newfound skills, and help you build a firm foundation of knowledge to help you make better decisions. Visit the NCC MG Workshops web page, or contact us at 302-831-2506 to request brochure and registration information. Our programs are open to all without regard to race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.
—Jo Mercer, Horticulture & Environmental Science
Originally published in “Newark Outlook,” The Newark Post
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