Educational Classes to help your garden grow stong!

Saturday July 10^th 10:00AM

Watering 101                                                                                   Fran Kroner & Paul Jeffers

This lecture will focus on identifying common watering mistakes and teach you the best methods for watering your garden.

We will also discuss:

• Automatic irrigation systems
• Hoses and other watering accessories
• Different watering methods for different types of plants

Saturday, July 17^th 10:00AM

Planning Container Gardens                                                         Guest Speaker: Rinda West

Rinda will focus the lecture on her featured article in the Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication: Deck, Patio & Pool  

We will also discuss:

• The process of planning container gardens
• Designing individual containers
• Plant selections
• Rinda West sits on the board of Midwest Ecological Landscape Association (MELA) where she has worked passionately developing programs to save the native plant populations in IL. In addition, she is a board member of the LDA, Landscape Design Association.  Currently, her work can be viewed in the pages of the Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication: Deck, Patio & Pool.

Saturday July 24th 10:00AM

Architectural Pruning                            John Eskandari with guest speakers and Meegan McMillan

John & Meegan will review and demonstrate the different pruning methods used to turn ordinary plants into extraordinary specimens.

• Proper tools
• Identifying plants in need of shaping
• Different pruning methods for different plants
• John and Meegan are both emplyees of the Tree and Shrub department
  

Saturday July 31st 10:00AM

All About Japanese Maples                                                        John Eskandari & Meegan McMillan

This session will explore the numerous varieties of Japanese Maples and what makes them so exclusive.

We will also discuss:

• Preferred site and soil conditions
• Growing habit and shaping tolerance
• Common problems and remedies

Saturday, August 7^th 10:00 AM

Plants for Shade Besides Hosta                                                       Guest Speaker: Kim Kaulas

The lecture will focus on creating interesting shade gardens by using a variety of plants that can tolerate shade.

We will also discuss:

• Evaluating light conditions
• Challenges of the shade gardener
• Expanding plant palette for use in shade gardens
• Kim Kaulas is a local landscape designer who also teaches for the Chicago Botanic Garden. She's a board member of the Landscape Design Association. 

Saturday, August 28^th 10:00AM

Common Insects & Diseases                                                            Fran Kroner & Paul Jeffers

This session will explore the most common insects and diseases that plague woody plants in the Chicagoland area. 

We will also discuss:

• Identifying diseases and insects
• Products designed to combat problems
• Ways to prevent disease and insects