Precise Pruning Practices for Trees & Shrubs

Catherine Moravec, Horticulture Extension Agent, El Paso County

Late winter is the best time to prune. Effective pruning practices can be used to train young plants, improve appearance, control shape and size, influence flowering and fruiting, remove damaged growth, and reinvigorate stagnant trees and shrubs. Learn pruning techniques that improve health, appearance and weather resilience while avoiding destructive techniques that destroy valuable woody plants.

Turf - The Carpet for Your Garden

Diana Picchietti, Colorado Master Gardener

Lawns serve as play areas, help cool neighborhoods, and act as backdrops for trees, flowers, and shrubs. This class will highlight practical methods to fix common problems in existing lawns. The necessary steps for starting a new lawn will also be covered. Lastly, learn about some of the latest and greatest choices in turf that have recently become available to homeowners.

Soil – Still Your Best Friend

Scott Wilson, Colorado Master Gardener

Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening. Learn how to improve your soil based on its texture. Also, discover how to grow an extraordinary landscape by capitalizing on the strengths and diminishing the limitations of your soil type. Soil-related geology and soil improvers, (a.k.a. worms) will also be covered. With a sound soil management strategy, you can grow beautiful plants from the bottom up!

Yes, You Can Grow Tomatoes in the Pikes Peak Region

Carey Harrington, Colorado Master Gardener

Fresh tomatoes are the hallmark of the vigorous summer vegetable garden. Come learn tips and effective methods for growing great tomatoes in our area. This class will cover choosing successful varieties, seed starting, growing under lights, transplanting seedlings, and tomato culture. Never eat another tomato-less summer salad again!

Compost & Mulch

Becky Elder, Colorado Master Gardener, Owner - Blue Planet Earthscapes, Co-founder - Pikes Peak Permaculture

Add magic to the soil with home-made compost. Learn to mix brown and green materials to produce a rich soil enhancement that will make major improvements in your garden. Furthermore, learn about protecting soil and plant roots with mulch. The strengths and limitations of organic and inorganic mulches will be reviewed.

Vegetable Gardening

Scott Wilson, Colorado Master Gardener

Front Range weather, poor soil and water limitations can frustrate enthusiastic vegetable gardeners. Nonetheless, experienced gardeners have developed ways of working around the unpredictable climate to grow bountiful vegetable harvests. Learn more about planning, soil preparation, plant selection, irrigation, maintenance, and season extension techniques from an experienced veggie man.

Ornamental Grasses, A Plant for All Seasons

Carol Stringer, Colorado Master Gardener

Hardy Shrubs for the Colorado Garden

Kim Gravestock, Colorado Master Gardener, Owner - From the Ground Up

Ornamental Grasses – Gorgeous grasses create a sense of place in Colorado landscapes. Learn more about a wide variety of resilient and beautiful grasses for Colorado gardens. Ornamental grasses display light and movement, as well as add music to your garden.

Shrubs – Shrubs can be one of the best plants to define landscapes. With emphasis on good soil preparation, plant selection and proper irrigation choices, gardeners can select beautiful shrubs from a diverse palette of plants appropriate for our region.

Planting for Beneficial Birds and Bugs

David Wild, Colorado Master Gardener, Owner - Wild Gardens LLC

Bee Biology

Todd Marts, Beekeeper and El Paso County Leisure Services Div. Mgr. at Bear Creek Nature Center

Birds and Bugs - Great gardens have more than beautiful plants. They mirror healthy natural ecosystems by incorporating plantings that attract beneficial birds and insects. Bring nature’s best helpers into your garden and enjoy the vibrant colors and lively action.

Bees - Take a fascinating glimpse into the natural world through a honeybee hive and learn about the complex relationships of a colony.

To H*ll with Narrow Strips

Cathy Schroeder, Colorado Master Gardener

We’ve all got them – those narrow strips between the sidewalk and the street, between the garage and the property line, or between the walkway and the house. Learn how this design challenge can turn into a low-water landscaping opportunity.

High Altitude Gardening Basics

Kim Jones, Colorado Master Gardener, Owner - Back to Eden Landscaping

Gardeners in northern El Paso County and Teller County have different challenges to conquer – a shorter growing season, harsher weather, more wildlife, soil issues and colder winters. This class will demystify high-altitude gardening secrets by presenting practical tips from seasoned experts. Discover how to set the stage for high altitude gardening success!

NOTE: This class will be held twice on the same day at the Woodmoor Community Center, 1691 Woodmoor Dr.

High Altitude Gardening – Beyond the Basics

Kim Jones, Colorado Master Gardener, Owner - Back to Eden Landscaping

Once you’ve employed high altitude gardening fundamentals, you are ready for the next steps. Join tenacious northern El Paso County Colorado Master Gardeners as they address some of the most common gardening topics encountered at the Monument Master Gardener Help Desk. Topics include managing soils, soil amending, proper pruning, zone 4 plant selection and lawn care basics. This class builds on the High Altitude Gardening Basics class from April 29 (which was also presented in 2007).

NOTE: This class will be held twice on the same day at the Monument Branch Library, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr.