Spring Break Gardening Series

Spring Break Gardening Series
Warmer weather is on the horizon and with that brings thoughts of gardening and being outside. This year for the Spring Break Gardening Series we have a great lineup of topics that are sure to get you thinking about your plans for this upcoming spring and summer! All programs will begin at 1:30 p.m. on their respective day and be held at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 N. Vine Street, Elizabeth, IL. Pre-registration is requested due to limited seating for some of the programs. The cost of the program varies depending on the nature of the program.

Starting Vegetable Seeds Successfully - March 18, $5 fee
Starting vegetable seeds indoors can get you a head start on your vegetable garden. It also lets you choose the types of varieties you want instead of waiting to purchase transplants. This program will get into the basics of vegetable seed starting. Topics covered will include equipment needed, plants you should and should not start indoors, and issues you might encounter. By the end of this program, you should be fully prepared to start your seeds in the upcoming weeks. 

Rainwater Management in the Home Landscape - April 8, $5 fee
Rainfall is important to the health of any landscape. Whether dealing with drought conditions or excess rainfall, management of rainwater is important to the long term health of your landscape. Intentionally designing rainfall management systems into our landscape (yard or larger areas) can ensure success during minor drought and excessively wet times. Learn about options to put rainwater diverted from the hardscapes in your yard to use instead of lost as runoff. Jay will discuss how rain gardens, bioswales, and other structures can be designed into your landscape to retain this valuable resource.

Vermicomposting - April 15, $5 fee
Vermicomposting is a cool compost method that utilizes your kitchen scraps to transform into compost that you can then use for your houseplants, vegetables, garden beds, and seed starting. This class will look at the basics of getting started, discuss different bin options, maintaining your bin, troubleshooting, and utilizing your castings.

Spring Centerpieces - April 17, $30 fee, participants will leave with an arrangement of their own
Fresh-cut flowers are a great way to decorate your home or celebrate special occasions. Have you ever wanted to try floral design using fresh-cut flowers? This is your opportunity! Participants will learn the basics of designing with cut flowers and will then make a fresh spring-themed flower arrangement to take home with them.

Invasive Species - April 29, $5 fee
With warmer weather on the horizon, things are starting to green up. Our landscapes are coming back to life with showy displays of new plant growth and flower. But, are all of those plants you expected and want? Are there plants taking over your yard and landscape? If you have unwanted plants, now might be the best time to manage them before they become problematic. The primary focus of this spring workshop will be on vegetative plants easily identified and controlled prior to developing seeds.

Herbs - May 6, $20, participants will leave with an herb planter
Herb gardens are becoming increasingly popular for many reasons. This program will touch on how to grow herbs in small spaces, uses for the herbs you are growing, and how you can potentially overwinter certain types of herbs in your home. Laurie will also show a unique way she found to hang her herbs to dry. You will then be able to plant your own herb container to take home with you.

Gardening with Wildlife - May 13, $5 fee
Do you enjoy watching nature outside your window? Deer, squirrels, rabbits, and other four-legged visitors to your garden can be entertaining but also very destructive. During this program we will explore what you can do to enjoy wildlife without the destruction to your garden.

Pollinators - May 20, $5 fee
When it comes to pollination, honey bees get a majority of the attention. However, many insects play a role in pollination. This presentation will discuss different native pollinators and how to make your landscape attractive to them.

Tree Health - May 27, $5 fee
Sometimes a tree's biggest pest is the homeowner. Tree health can be difficult to determine, but routinely checking your tree may help you notice problems as they appear. During this presentation we will discuss common mistakes homeowners make when planting and maintaining their trees as well as the most common issues that cause tree decline in the landscape and how to identify them.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of these programs, please call the Extension Office at 815-858-2273.