Gardening classes abound

A great way to satisfy the early urge to garden and improve horticultural knowledge and skills is to take a class. Greenhouse Garden Center, 2450 S. Curry St., Carson City, is offering a number of classes, each at 10 a.m. On March 8, learn about selecting spring-flowering plants. The March 15 class is Preparing Soil for Spring and will also cover organic growing. On March 29, Cool-weather Gardening and Starting Seeds Successfully helps gardeners get into their veggie mode.

For those willing to travel, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are teaching free classes at Bartley Ranch Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Learn about Composting and Soils on March 11, Vegetable Gardening on March 18, and Rose Care and Pruning on March 25.

Also in Reno, the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Rancho San Rafael Park, 1595 N. Sierra St., is presenting a series of workshops. On March 12, March 20, April 2 and April 9, 6 Ð 8:30 p.m., horticulturist Bill Carlos will talk on a variety of topics, such as organic vegetable gardening, soils, fertilizers, lawns and water-efficient landscaping. Classes are held in the Ranch House.

In Take the Fear out of Pruning, 8:30 Ð 11:30 a.m., March 15, gardeners will not only learn proper pruning techniques, but will also practice on the arboretum's trees. Arborists certified by the International Society of Arborists will teach this workshop.

For a spring equinox celebration on March 20, you can participate in a walking meditation in the labyrinth garden, 5:30 Ð 6:30 p.m. Call 784-4153 to register for classes, as space is limited to 40 people. Donations for materials and refreshments are welcome. When you go, be sure to leave time to tour the gardens and watch them unfold as spring arrives.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Nevada Division of Forestry and the USDA Forest Service begin their 12th annual landscape management workshop series in English and in Spanish, March 26, 5:30 Ð 8 p.m., with a presentation on proper pruning techniques. This series is geared for green industry professionals and staff and master gardeners. Certified education units are offered.

The workshops continue on Wednesdays through May 7. The registration fee for each class is $30 until March 25, and $35 per class after March 25. Each presentation takes place at a different green industry location in Reno.

On April 2, Plant Classification Techniques will be presented. On Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. Ð noon, a free Basics of Irrigation and Design workshop will also be offered at Reno Lawn and Landscape, 850 Maestro Drive. Registration is required for all workshops. For a complete schedule and registration form, call University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 887-2252 or 784-4848.

For more information on gardening, contact me, 887-2252 or skellyj@unce.unr.edu, or your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. Check out many useful horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu. "Ask a Master Gardener" by e-mailing mastegardeners@unce.unr.edu.

-- JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension Educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.