Master Gardeners Offering Classes Throughout April

Residents only have a few more days until the Hennepin County Master Gardener program kicks off at local libraries.

The county is offering more than a dozen free programs—including a class April 10 at the on growing berries in Minnesota, appropriate for the Raspberry city.

Programs will be taught by master gardeners—University of Minnesota-trained volunteers who complete at least 48 hours of horticultural education, 12 hours of continuing education and 50 hours of volunteer service. To remain certified, they must complete 12 hours of continuing education and 25 hours of volunteer service each year. 

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Master gardener classes

Master Gardener: Small Space Vegetable Gardening

• Champlin Library
• Monday, April 2, 6:30 p.m.
• You can create highly productive flower and vegetable gardens in small spaces. Learn to plan your space, use trellises, containers, wide-row or square-row, rounded beds and raised beds. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Best Plants for Tough Sites

• Brooklyn Park Library
• Tuesday, April 3, 7 p.m.
• Register Online or call 612-543-6225.
• Explore the best plants for 30 tough sites such as alkaline and clay soils. Also covers boulevard and rain gardens, shrubs for shade, deer-resistant plants and plants that will survive under a walnut tree. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Spring-Flowering Bulbs

• Linden Hills Library
• Thursday, April 5, 6:30 p.m.
• Register Online or call 612-543-6825.
• Fall’s the time to plant those beautiful spring-flowering bulbs. Learn from a Master Gardener how to plant many types and enjoy slides of spring-flowering favorites. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Growing Berries in Minnesota

• Hopkins Library
• Tuesday, April 10, 6 p.m.
• Would you like fresh berries on your cereal or mixed into your pancakes? Learn about selecting a growing site, the berries that grow well in our area (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries), common diseases and how to preserve your produce. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Beginning Vegetable Gardening

• Brookdale Library
• Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.
• Register Online or call 612-543-5600.
• Basics of vegetable gardening: site selection, soil preparation, terrain features, planting, upkeep, fertilizers, common pests, diseases, techniques to reduce the need for pesticides, as well as how to garden in small spaces. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Rain Gardening

• Southeast Library
• Saturday, April 14, 2:30 p.m.
• A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden designed to absorb excess rainwater run-off from a house and its associated landscape. Learn why it’s beneficial for the environment, how to make one and what plants are suitable. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Rain Gardening

• Washburn Library
• Saturday, April 14, 10:30 a.m.
• A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden designed to absorb excess rainwater run-off from a house and its associated landscape. Learn why it’s beneficial for the environment, how to make one and what plants are suitable. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Edible Landscapes

• Rockford Road Library
• Wednesday, April 18, 6:30 p.m.
• Learn the how-to's of edible landscaping. Fruits, vegetables, berries and edible flowers can easily become a part of your home landscape design. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Edible Landscapes

• Northeast Library
• Saturday, April 21, 1 p.m.
• Learn the how-to's of edible landscaping. Fruits, vegetables, berries and edible flowers can easily become a part of your home landscape design. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Container Gardening

• Excelsior Library
• Saturday, April 21, 10:30 a.m.
• Container gardening allows you to add color to your garden, deck or front steps with limited time commitment. Learn to select containers, a good potting mix, ideal plants and how to care for these beautiful mini gardens. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Beginning Vegetable Gardening

• Nokomis Library
• Tuesday, April 24, 6 p.m.
• Basics of vegetable gardening: site selection, soil preparation, terrain features, planting, upkeep, fertilizers, common pests, diseases, techniques to reduce the need for pesticides, as well as how to garden in small spaces. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Advanced Vegetable Gardening

• Pierre Bottineau Library
• Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m.
• Registration required, begins Mar 29. Register online or call 612-543-6850.
• Learn how to read seed packets and plant tags, when to plant cool- and warm-season vegetables, which fertilizers work best for growth and production, and how intercropping and successive plantings of common vegetables help utilize available garden space. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.

Master Gardener: Ornamental Grasses

• Washburn Library
• Saturday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.
• Adding ornamental grasses gardens is growing in popularity. Learn about the many varieties, where to get ideas for selecting grasses, and the good and bad qualities of each variety. 

Presented in collaboration with Hennepin County Master Gardeners, University of Minnesota Extension.