Registration now open.

Summer Gardening Know-How Series

Four 1-1/2 hour ONLINE sessions

One weeknight per week for 4 weeks

Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30 PM

May 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2023

Knowing HOW-TO is important in the short-term. But gardening KNOW-HOW is forever! As March and April turn into May, gardeners’ thoughts turn to what and how to plant. When it comes to tasks that are critical to the success of this year’s garden, you need not only hands-on skills but also knowledge of key summer gardening principles and practices. That’s where the Summer Gardening Know-How Series comes in! 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: New to gardening? Have a few years of gardening experience but lots of questions? New homeowner? The Summer Gardening Know-How Series is right for you. 

TOPICS:

At the MMGA we love to talk about gardening and horticulture. But we also like to listen. When our conversations with home gardeners turn to late spring/early summer tasks, four topics always top the list. That’s why we’ve chosen them as the focus of our four-week Summer Gardening Know-How Series.

• Growing Herbs for Cooking, Fragrance, Pollinators and More: Think beyond those pots of parsley on your kitchen windowsill! Herbs are easy to grow in the garden and have many uses beyond cooking, including providing support for native pollinators. Learn where to locate your herb garden, how to prepare the soil, plant selection options, how to grow herbs from seed, and what ongoing care is needed. And because herbs are not just for summer, we’ll also cover which ones can be divided or overwintered for a continuous supply year after year.

• Getting Started (or Not) with Vegetable Gardening: Aspiring first-time vegetable gardener looking to get healthier, reduce your grocery bill, become more food independent, or expand your palate? Experienced at growing vegs but looking to up your game?  Learn what vegetables need in terms of sun, soil, water and fertilizer; garden layout options; how to choose the types and varieties of vegetables for the best yields; growing techniques/best practices; and when to start from seed vs. transplants.   

• Container Gardening – Stoop Less/Grow More: If soil quality/space is a concern, you have a deck or patio begging to be put to good use, or you simply want to be kinder to your back, consider growing vegetables and flowers in elevated beds, pots or grow-bags. Learn how to choose appropriate containers, what soil mixtures to use, what plants are happiest in containers, which ones need a trellis or other support to climb on, and how to water and fertilize for best results.

• How to Choose and Grow New England Native Plants: By now we all know the ecological benefits of growing New England native plants. From the gardener’s perspective not only are natives beautiful, but also − because they are adapted to our climate − they require less attention and often offer better resistance to diseases and pests. But all natives are not created equal when it comes to basic requirements. Learn how to select, plant and nurture native species…as well as the important differences between “straight” (pure) natives and cultivars or hybrids. 

SUMMER KNOW-HOW SERIES PRESENTERS are senior Massachusetts Master Gardeners (MGs) who are passionate subject matter experts and trained speakers. 

• Gretel Anspach – A Master Gardener since 1998, Gretel is a retired engineer with a passion for both the art and the science of gardening. A sought-after MMGA Speakers Bureau presenter, her repertoire includes a wide range of practical topics. She is also the volunteer manager of a food pantry garden in Marlborough.

• Kathi Gariepy – A Lifetime Master Gardener with more than 10,000 hours of MMGA volunteering to her credit, Kathi is the owner of garden design firm Pleasant Vistas. She is also a former vice-president of the MMGA, former president of the Attleboro Garden Club, and current chair of the Attleboro Conservation Commission. She studied landscape design at the Rhode Island School of Design and is a recent recipient of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Silver Medal. 

COST: The cost of the four-lecture Summer Gardening Know-How Series is $60.00, payable online by credit/debit card or PayPal. Classes are not available individually. Price includes a number of handouts and live Q&A time with speakers. 

Summer will be here soon.

Now’s the time to “plan your plan” for your 2023 garden. 

Put the month of May to good use by attending

the MMGA’s Summer Gardening Know-How Series, May 10-31, 2023.

To ensure everyone a great educational experience, space is limited. Registration closes 5:00 PM, Saturday, May 6, 2023, or once we are full. Refunds for series cancellations must be requested by May 6, 2023. Refunds not available for individual missed classes. 

Questions? 

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.

Or email us at KnowHow@MassMasterGardeners.org

Looking for more in-depth gardening/horticultural education? Consider our 10-week Home Gardener Boot Camp Program, which will be offered again in early 2024. 

The Gardening Know-How Series was formerly called the Home Gardening Webinar Series.