HOME GARDENER SERIES 2024
Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of home gardening, from plant identification and pruning, to soil and plant care? Are you an experienced gardener who is looking to improve your skills or gain a deeper understanding of important concepts like pruning, sustainability, or soil testing/management? Join us for this yearlong series of workshops and classes designed to give gardeners of all experience levels the tools and knowledge to properly care for their gardens. No matter how small or large your garden is, you will gain new insights through this series of classes and hands-on workshops that take place here at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill.
The pruning workshops are performed in the garden and reflect the instructor’s five pruning windows during the year to accomplish specific tasks unique to the plants and time of year.
All classes will be taught by Reed Pugh of Barking Dog Gardens. Reed’s first career was in advertising in New York City, but after moving to San Francisco over 25 years ago, he made a life-altering change and went back to school for ornamental horticulture. Over the years in San Francisco and Boston he has worked in multiple nurseries, had his own design, installation, and maintenance businesses on both coasts, managed a 30-acre historic private estate in Brookline, and managed one of the top fine-gardening companies in New England. Reed is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH), and for the past few years he has been teaching our very popular Seasonal Pruning series.
Each in-person class is $40 for NEBG at TH members, and $55 for non-members. Sign up for one – or sign up for all!
INTRO TO PRUNING (ON-DEMAND WEBINAR)
Thursday, February 22, 7-8pm
This webinar is for people who are new to gardening or are looking to build a solid base of knowledge to prune shrubs and ornamental trees confidently and properly.
$10M; $15NM
SEASONAL PRUNING: LATE WINTER Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Sunday, February 25, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
The first pruning workshop will focus on late summer and fall flowering/fruiting shrubs and trees that flower on upcoming season’s growth (new wood).
WORK IN THE SPRING GARDEN
Saturday, March 23, 10:30AM-12PM
Learn about proper practices and timing for early season work in the garden. Topics include soil testing and amending, fertilization, pollinator/insect protection, transplanting and division, weeds, pruning, mulching, and irrigation.
SEASONAL PRUNING: EARLY SPRING Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Sunday, April 28, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
The second pruning workshop will focus on early spring flowering shrubs that have just flowered on previous season’s growth (old wood), and we will discuss managing winter damage. This is the key window when plants respond the most to pruning, so we will cover renovating plants and what not to prune in this explosive window.
INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE AND BOTANY
Saturday, May 11, 10AM-12PM
This class will provide an introductory review for the home gardener of plants and their parts, botanical nomenclature, and plant identification of leaves and flowers using horticultural language. It is recommended that participants take this class prior to taking either of the in-garden Plant ID classes.
PLANT ID: SPRING FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Saturday, June 1, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
Walk through the garden to improve your identification skills of spring flowering shrubs. It is highly recommended that participants take the Intro to Horticultural Science and Botany class as a prerequisite.
SEASONAL PRUNING: LATE SPRING Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Sunday, June 2, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
The third pruning workshop will focus on the bulk of our spring flowering shrubs and trees that have flowered on the previous season’s growth (old wood).
PLANT ID: EVERGREEN (CONIFEROUS) AND DECIDUOUS TRESS Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Saturday, June 29, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
Walk through the garden to improve your identification skills of Evergreen and Deciduous Trees. It is highly recommended that participants take the Intro to Horticultural Science and Botany class as a prerequisite.
SEASONAL PRUNING: SUMMER Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Sunday, June 30, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
The fourth pruning workshop will focus on late spring and summer flowering plants that had not flowered in the previous window, ornamental trees, and evergreens.
WORK IN THE FALL GARDEN
Saturday, September 7, 10:30AM-12PM
Learn about proper practices for putting gardens to bed for the winter and other important work in the fall. Topics include cutting back plants, planting, transplanting/division, leaf management, seed collection, managing dead/diseased material, soil testing/amending, cold and critter protection, no pruning, and planning for the future.
PLANT PROPAGATION FOR THE HOME GARDENER Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Sunday, September 8, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
This workshop will show you how to propagate both annuals and perennials from your garden over the winter with minimal cost.
SEASONAL PRUNING: DORMANT SEASON Morning Session | Afternoon Session
Sunday, November 24, 10:30AM-12PM or 1-2:30PM
The fifth and final pruning workshop will focus on dormant pruning for many deciduous trees and shrubs as their structure is visible, as well as pruning to prevent winter damage.