LaPorte County Master Gardeners are offering a My First Yard workshop, with the theme “Putting the Garden to Bed,” on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the LaPorte County Public Library.
The My First Yard classes were developed by LaPorte County Master Gardeners to give basic garden, lawn and landscape care information to Habitat for Humanity partner families for their new homes. The class has grown to include any homeowners who wish to learn the basics of caring for their yards and gardens. A spring class assisted homeowners in establishing or maintaining a beautiful yard and garden.
The fall class will guide homeowners in putting the yard and garden to bed for the winter. Master Gardeners will explain cutting back vs. pruning, fall plantings and bulbs, important fall lawn care practices, and other ideas to give a yard and garden a “jump start” in the spring. The class will also give novice gardeners tips on useful garden tools, lawnmower care and cleanup.
Registration is $5 before Sept. 3, $7 after that. Class size is limited to 25. Register by calling Purdue Extension-LaPorte County at 219-324-9407 or by mailing or delivering the registration form and fee, which covers the cost of materials, to Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, 2358 N. U.S. 35, LaPorte, IN 46350. A registration flyer is available from the office or at www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/laporte; click on “Master Gardeners” and look for “Fall It’s My First Yard Class” under “Events & Educational Opportunities.”
The LaPorte County Master Gardener Association is one of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service programs and helps fulfill the state motto of “Helping Others Grow” by training volunteers to promote good gardening and horticultural practices.
A fall Master Gardener training series will begin on Sept. 2. For more information about the Master Gardener Program or about becoming a Master Gardener, please contact the LaPorte County Extension office at (219) 324-9407 or go to the website above.