Did you know that over 50% of Bozeman’s treated water in July and August goes to irrigating lawns and landscapes? The City of Bozeman and landscape experts at Green Gardens Group continue to offer homeowners FREE online Watershed Wise Landscaping webinars in May.
Ask specific questions about your own yard and garden, get inspired, and learn to transform your yard into a water smart landscape. Here’s a look at the remaining webinars scheduled throughout the month.
Next up is Protecting the Trees on Wednesday, May 3rd, from 6–7pm. The hourlong webinar will highlight the importance of tree health, particularly during times of drought. Participants will learn about:
– Understanding how trees collaborate in the landscape
– Developing an irrigation strategy for efficiently watering trees
– Creating separate irrigation systems for trees planted in grass areas
– Developing a successful maintenance practice to ensure survival
A Garden Design Workshop follows on Thursday, May 11th, from 6–7:30pm. The 90-minute webinar takes attendees through the step-by-step process of creating a successful watershed wise design. It will feature the following information:
– Raingarden design and placement
– Selecting a plant palette
– Role of native plants
– Layout recommendations
– Design considerations
On Tuesday, May 16th, from 6–7pm, take part in Turf: Remove, Replace, or Maintain It (Organically). The 60-minute webinar discusses removing and managing turf using the following:
– Removing turf without the use of chemicals
– Replacing turf with climate appropriate plantings
– Keeping the turf in place but maintaining it in an organic manner by building soil for healthy lawns, properly irrigating a lawn, simple lawn care strategies to improve resilience, and managing the big three: weeds, pests and disease
Drip Irrigation Fundamentals is set for Saturday, May 20th, from 10–11am. This hourlong webinar details the following steps to managing an efficient drip system:
– Understanding the soil moisture balance
– Key components of a properly installed drip system
– Typical problems with drip and how to avoid them
– Developing a successful maintenance practice
Closing the series on Wednesday, May 24th, is Compost: Building the Soil Sponge from 6–7pm. This 60-minute webinar will drill down into the vital process of creating a healthy soil sponge:
– Understanding how plants work with their soil
– Introducing the soil food web
– Techniques and tips for making compost
– Sheet mulching to build healthy soil
– Selecting other soil amendments for the garden
This spring gardening series is co-presented by the City of Bozeman Water Conservation and Green Gardens Group. To register, visit www.bozeman.net or www.greengardensgroup.com. All webinars are free of admission. •
