The North Fulton Master Gardeners in partnership with the UGA Cooperative Extension in Fulton County are conducting a series of nine free classes for North Fulton residents on selected weekday evenings and Saturday, February 29. Each class emphasizes practical activities, at the time of year that is best suited for that activity, so you can enjoy your property with reasonable effort and cost. Classes are offered weekdays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Alpharetta (with exception of February 29 Saturday morning class) at the following locations:

  • Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Rd, Sandy Springs, GA
  • Bill Johnson Community Activity Building, Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA
  • Osage Room, Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA (Saturday, February 29 only)
  • Alpharetta: Public Works Department, 1790 Hembree Rd, Alpharetta, GA
  • Alpharetta: City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, GA

Registration:

Maintaining and Pruning Shrubs and Roses

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, February 17 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, February 18 RSVP
  • Alpharetta, Wednesday, February 19, Public Works RSVP

Homeowners will soon begin pruning and fertilizing roses and shrubs to be prepared for our summer heat and possible lack of rain. If plants have grown too large for their location, they may need to be pruned at the right time and done the right way. This class will cover the when, where and how and provide a hands-on demonstration of how to prune. And, it will provide a review of mulching, weed control, watering, fertilizing, and pest control for spring and summer.

Lawn Care for Spring and Summer

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, February 24 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, February 25 RSVP
  • Alpharetta: Wednesday, February 26, Public Works RSVP

February is the ideal time to plan to treat your lawn turf – before weeds germinate. Beautiful, healthy lawns require more than simply mowing and fertilizing. Cool-season and warm-season grasses require similar activities, but at different times, to be effective. This class will cover how cool and warm-season grasses differ and what they require, soil testing, fertilizing, weed control, aerating and watering. Even if someone else takes care of your lawn, this seminar will enable you to work with your lawn service more effectively.

Growing Fruit in Georgia

  • Saturday, February 29 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM
    Bulloch Hall – Osage Room, 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA RSVP

Melissa Mattee, the Fulton County Agriculture and Resource Agent for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, will talk about fruit trees (apple, peach, pear, fig), brambles (raspberry, blackberry), blueberries, strawberries, and grapes. She will cover the selection, planting, pruning, disease and harvesting. After the lecture in the Osage Room, participants are invited to join her and Master Gardeners in the adjoining Bulloch Orchard for a hands-on demonstration of pruning apple and peach trees and grape vines.

Good Soil and Composting

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, March 9 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, March 10 RSVP
  • Alpharetta: Wednesday, March 11, City Hall, Council Chambers RSVP

This class is the foundation for our Spring classes on growing and maintaining vegetables, perennials, shrubs, and roses. It provides an understanding of the science of soil and how to improve your soil emphasizing sustainable methods. It will cover the use of compost and mulch to improve and protect your soil. It includes a presentation on the benefits of worm composting and a demonstration of how to do it.

The Fragrant Garden

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, March 16 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, March 17 RSVP
  • Alpharetta, Wednesday, March 18, Public Works RSVP

Learn the secrets of creating enchanting fragrances in your garden to add a new dimension to it. This class identifies fragrant plants for each season. Learn about fragrant container plants as well as annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, roses, and trees. Fragrances attract pollinators, too.

The Basics of Vegetable Gardening

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, March 23 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, March 24 RSVP
  • Alpharetta: Wednesday, March 25 City Hall, Multi-purpose Room RSVP

Get a jump on summer vegetable gardening. Whether you are new to growing vegetables or are interested in learning how to increase your garden’s bounty, this class is for you. It will cover planning your garden, sustainable (organic) garden practices, spring vegetables, herbs, as well as, mulching, weed control, fertilizing and pest control. Learn from a lifelong gardener.

Hydrangeas – How to Plant, Grow and Prune

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, March 30 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, March 31 RSVP
  • Alpharetta: Wednesday, April 1, Public Works RSVP

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular shrubs in North Fulton where they flourish in many landscapes blooming in shades of blue, purple, pink and white. This class will cover how to select the right ones for your landscape, how to plant them and how to maintain them. There will be a hands-on demonstration of how to prune them to optimize blooming.

Container Gardening for Gardens, Patios, and Apartment Decks

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, April 6 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, April 7 RSVP

Containers with plants contribute additional color, form, texture, and variety to our gardens, patios, and apartment decks. With seasonal changes, they can also be used throughout the year. This class will cover types of plants to consider, choosing containers, soil requirements, selecting and arranging plants and regular care. If you have never had a patio or deck garden, now is an opportunity to learn how.

Establishing and Growing Perennials

  • Sandy Springs: Monday, April 20 RSVP
  • Roswell: Tuesday, April 21 RSVP
  • Alpharetta: Wednesday, April 22, Public Works RSVP

Perennials add year-after-year color and form to your gardens, whether you have sun, shade or a mixture of both. This class will cover getting started, selecting perennials and easily grown varieties of good pollinator plants. Learn tips and techniques to help your perennials prosper for years to come including soil preparation, planting and dividing, mulching, watering, fertilizing and weed control. The class will show perennials you may like to consider and some invasive ones you may want to avoid.

About the North Fulton Master Gardeners:

The North Fulton Master Gardeners is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide horticultural education, service and inspiration in the North Fulton community. Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are trained and certified by the University of Georgia Extension service.

We are pleased to once again partner with historic Bulloch Hall and the 2020 Roswell Azalea Festival in bringing the 2020 Garden Faire to the community.

GardenFairePromo1-11-20Join us Saturday, April 25, 2020 from 9 am to 4 pm for Garden Faire 2020 at Bulloch Hall. FREE Admission. Favorite Pass Along plants, fleatique vintage goods, garden vendors, garden art, pottery, craft vendors, garden tools, children’s activities, bake sale and food vendors. Rain or shine. Historic Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA 30075.  Free Parking and Shuttle: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell GA 30076.

Proceeds from Garden Faire support the North Fulton Master Gardeners gardening community education classes in Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Farm Chastain; gardening education for young children; university and college scholarships for horticulture students; and local demonstration gardens maintained by the North Fulton Master Gardeners.

Check out Garden Faire on FacebookTwitter, and the web.

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