Laura Vogel, Arboretum Host of the Minnesota Plants Webinar Series. Background photo by Sachiczko/shutterstock
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR SPRING 2022.
Check out the Minnesota Plants Fall 2022 series!
Registration includes all 13 sessions. The registration screen will say May 24 (the last session date). Registrants may watch live via Zoom and/or view recordings for up to 1 year.
Calling all gardeners, landscapers, and nature enthusiasts- this new weekly webinar series is for you! Join local horticultural experts for a closer look at the plants that grow in Minnesota. You'll get to explore collections, backyards and gardens from your armchair as you learn more about trees, perennials, edible plants, houseplants and more! Each expert will have a unique perspective to share, from ecological to commercial. You'll gain a greater appreciation of the green that makes Minnesota so beautiful, and get tips and tricks for your own garden
How it works Register for the series and get access to all 13 webinars- live and recorded! Each webinar will include a 30-45 minute presentation with time for questions along the way. Webinars will be recorded and available afterwards on a website with handouts and recommended resources.
Check your email Your confirmation email will include a Zoom link and instructions, plus a link to the Minnesota Plants website with the schedule, links, resources and more. Each Tuesday you will receive a reminder email and link for the evening’s webinar. Recordings will be available within two business days of each webinar.
Series Schedule - Spring 2022
Birdscaping: Gardening with the most Bird-friendly Native Plants
Tuesday, March 1, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Alan Branhagen, Director of Operations, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Are you interested in making your yard a safe haven for wild birds? In this session, Alan will share how the plants in your landscape can support birds:
- Learn how plants provide cover for roosting and nesting
- Discover why native plants are so important to native wild birds
- Learn what plants are best at providing food through foliage, fruit, seeds, and hosting insects and caterpillars as additional food sources.
- Leave with a list of suggested native plants for your yard, plus bird-friendly gardening tips and tricks.
Photo by Laura Vogel
Invasive Plants to Watch for in Spring
Tuesday, March 8, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Angela Gupta, Forestry Extension Professor and Educator, University of Minnesota Extension
Spring is a great time to nip spring blooming invasive plants in the bud! Invasive plants are aggressive growers and overtake native plants that provide food and habitat to our native pollinators.This presentation will include identification and management information about these spring blooming invasive plants:
- Squill
- Garlic mustard
- Dame's rocket
- Mock strawberry
You'll learn why these plants can be problematic, and when and where to report them!
Photo by amenic181/shutterstock
Seed Starting Tips & Tricks
Tuesday, March 15, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Courtney Tchida, Community Outreach Manager, Minnesota State Horticultural Society
The Minnesota State Horticultural Society has been sharing gardening knowledge for 150 years, including how to start seeds! Join Courtney for a bit of reminiscing, and the latest expert seed starting tips including:
- Seed starting schedules
- Options for containers and media
- Where and how to start seeds
- When and how to plant seeds and seedlings outside
Bring seed starting questions and become equipped with the know-how to get started!
50 Years of Japanese Beetle in Minnesota: Now What?
Tuesday, March 22, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Marissa Schuh, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulture Educator- Integrated Pest Management
Are your gardening efforts tormented by these invasive insects? Believe it or not, Japanese beetles have been around Minnesota for fifty years! Join Marissa to learn more about:
- How Japanese Beetles arrived in Minnesota
- Their impact as a turf and ornamental pest
- Ways that you can use integrated pest management (IPM) to safely keep their numbers in check
Photo by Philip Steury Photography/shutterstock
Gardening for MN's Future: E-Z Steps to Sustainable Gardening
Tuesday, March 29, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Gail Hudson, Owner, Gail Hudson Media
From planting to plastics to peat, learn the "how-to's" of sustainability and eco-friendly gardening you didn't know! Horticulturist and award-winning garden writer Gail Hudson shows you how to make some simple, small changes to grow more sustainably right in your own Minnesota backyard and slow climate change at the same time.
- Organic isn't enough anymore-learn sustainable gardening techniques
- How to become "water-wise"
- "Honey, the lawn is shrinking!" Green reasons to reduce the size of your grass
- Cut back on plastic (pots especially!). Can we do it?
- The problem with Peat
- And how to design a sustainable garden.
Photo by Christopher Hall, Arboretum Photographer's Society
Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022
Tuesday, April 5, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Mary Schier, Editor of The Northern Gardener
Since 2020, more than 18 million people have started gardening, influencing what's available in nurseries, design trends and more! And who better to know than The Northern Gardener Editor? In this presentation, Mary will explore 10 trends coming to your garden in 2022 and get you excited to start growing.
Photo by Manfred Richter/Pixabay
Plants for All Seasons: Perennials for Year-round Delight!
Tuesday, April 12, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Gail Hudson, Owner, Gail Hudson Media
Add some all-season, easy-care perennials to your planting palette. As soon as the snow melts, these "ever-green" winners stand out in Minnesota's brown landscape, ready to bloom for spring. Horticulturist and award-winning garden writer Gail Hudson shows you some of the hot new varieties that make these perennials practically perfect!
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Hydrangeas for Minnesota Gardens
Tuesday, April 19, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Julie Weisenhorn, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulture Educator- Yard and Garden
Hydrangeas are a beautiful and popular shrub for Minnesota gardens, and Julie gets lots of questions about them through Yard and Garden News, as well as the radio! In this session, you'll learn:
- The difference between hydrangea species and cultivars, and which grow well in Minnesota
- How to select the best hydrangea for your site
- What care hydrangeas need, from fertilizing to pruning
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Hardy
Yellow Prairie Grass, A Versatile Native Grass
Tuesday, April 26, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Mary Meyer, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota
Yellow prairie grass, or Sorghastrum nutans, is one of 4 dominant grasses in the tallgrass prairie- the original ecosystem that covered much of western Minnesota! Get excited about adding this hardy native grass to your garden as you learn:
- How yellow prairie grass plays an important role with the other insects and wildlife
- The many landscape benefits it provides
- Some of the cultivars bred by the University of Minnesota
Photo by Raphael Quinet/Wikipedia
Easy to Grow Fruits for your Minnesota Garden
Tuesday, May 3, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Annie Klodd, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulture Educator- Fruit and Vegetable Production
Are you new to growing fruit, and not sure where to start? Join Annie to learn more about three fun, low maintenance fruits you can add to your garden- honeyberry, raspberry, and currants. In this session, you'll learn:
- How to select the best fruit and cultivar for your location
- How many plants are needed for fruit production
- Best practices for planting, spacing, and pruning
- How to keep your fruit shrubs and canes healthy and productive
Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota Extension
Bee Lawns and the Important Role of White Clover
Tuesday, May 10, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Kristine Moncada, Turfgrass Scientist, University of Minnesota
Bee lawns provide food to many pollinators and can be an easy addition to a home landscape! White clover is particularly valuable because not only is it a good quality source of nectar and pollen, it is a legume that fixes nitrogen. Kristine will cover:
- An introduction to bee lawns
- The benefits of white clover
- Other flower options for bee lawns
- The latest bee lawn resources.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Hickories for Minnesota Landscapes
Tuesday, May 17, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Brandon M. Miller, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Dept of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota
Thinking about planting a tree this year, but worried about its ability to survive a changing climate? Consider a hickory! Brandon will:
- Make the case for these stately, native trees and their outstanding ornamental features
- Discuss their ability to tolerate the demands of a changing climate, from more frequent severe weather to new exotic pests.
- Introduce the hickories best suited to Minnesota
Photo courtesy of Component/shutterstock
Vegetable Garden Watering Tips and Tricks
Tuesday, May 24, 7-8 p.m. CDT
Tim Wilson, Farm at the Arb Education Manager
As our climate continues to offer unusual extremes, it's more important than ever to water wisely in your vegetable garden. Under or over watering can cause stress to plants, and result in low or poor crop yields. Join Tim to learn more about:
- Conserving water through a variety of mulches
- The benefits of irrigation systems
- The best time of day to water
- His favorite tips from the Market Garden
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