Montgomery County, TN – Spring is right around the corner it’s time to prepare the flower beds, vegetable gardens and landscaped yards that the neighbors will just love to drive by. If you are new to the area or have lived here for years and would like to learn more about gardening and solve those pesky problems in the yard, these classes are for you.
The Montgomery County Master Gardeners Association will be sponsoring the Beginner and Newcomer Gardening Classes that are taught by Master Gardeners and other experts who volunteer their time and knowledge to help educate the community about gardening in Tennessee.
Classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:30pm beginning March 1 and ending March 22nd at the Madison Street Methodist Church in Clarksville. The cost for all four sessions is $40.00 per person. You can register by contacting the Montgomery County Extension office at 931-648-5725 or e-mail Karla Kean at kkean@utk.edu. This will be a great opportunity to meet the people that can help in your gardening needs and to ask questions you’ve longing to have answered.
The first class, March 1st, Karla Kean, Horticulture Extension Agent for the TSU– Montgomery County Extension office will tell us all about the Fall Master Gardener program and a little about flowers and soil. Soil testing is a must for any new gardener to ensure the beautiful landscape you are working towards. Following Karla’s presentation, Master Gardener Tina Ramsey will tell us how to Design Landscapes Year Round Interest.
On March 8th, everything you would need to know about Weed and Pest control will be given by Chris Robbins, Tennessee State University Farm Manager. Following Chris, Master Gardener David Neblett will talk about Vegetable Gardening. Learn what works and doesn’t work the in the garden. This man knows his veggies!
On March 15th, Terry Simo will address Composting and Fertilizing. Composting is an excellent way to mulch flower and vegetable gardens and build soil structure. Next Tracy Jackson, will teach us All About Trees. You won’t find another gentleman who is as passionate about our trees around town.
The last class March 22nd, Master Gardener Diann Nance will educate us with facts, myths and legends about her wonderful Herbs. She’s the owner of Diann’s Greenhouse. Following Diann will be Master Gardener Linda Earp, Container and Small Water features. If you have a small area, inside or outside, Linda will show you how to spruce it up.
So, if you think this is for you, come on out, have some fun learning about your gardens, meet some down to earth speakers and get those questions answered. These classes are a small sample of the official Master Gardener course held in the fall offered through the county Extension Office.
More information about the state and local program can be found by accessing the following web sites: http://mastergardener.tennessee.edu or http://www.montgomerycountymastergardenersassociation.com .
The registration deadline for the spring 2011 Master Gardener Beginning and Newcomer Classes is February 28th, 2011. Register by contacting the Montgomery County Extension office at 931-648-5725 or e-mail Karla Kean at kkean@utk.edu.
