Gardening Basics

Containers Galore—Multi-session Day

Saturday, June 2

FEE: $29 for 1 class; $49 for 2; $79 for 3; $99 for 4
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

Ideas, color, and creativity abound in this smorgasbord of sessions all about containers. Choose any or all of the different sessions throughout the day. Learn how to make great containers on the cheap, fill your container with luscious colors and textures, climb into the sky with vines in containers, add water containers to a small space, learn the intricacies of trough gardening, and/or make your own container to take home. Read on for the details.

Great Containers on the Cheap
with Duane Campbell
8:30 to 9:30 am
CODE: 071GBCG1
Do you want a lavish and lush container array on your deck or drive or patio? One that looks as good in August as it did in June? Your budget is twenty bucks, and that has to include the tubs and pots? But it can't look cheap and tacky? No-o-o problem. Come see how.

Luscious Colors and Textures in your Containers
with Dan Benarcik
9:45 to 10:45 am
CODE: 071GBCG2
Container gardening continues to gain popularity. Why is that? Because every year brings new and exciting plant options. Let Dan show you some of what makes the containers at Chanticleer sizzle all season long. Hot colors, cool textures; the plants you can't garden without. Primarily tender plants with a good helping of tender perennials will be featured.

Up, Up, and Away—Growing Vertically in a Container
with Dan Long
11:00 am to Noon
CODE: 071GBCG3
Do you have limited space? Grow up in the air! Learn general guidelines for selection of containers, potting mix, support structures, watering and care. Dan will review specific vines suitable for container culture by themselves or in combination with other plants. A wide selection of genera both hardy and tropical will be discussed.

Cool Aquatic Plants
with Tim Jennings & Patrick Nutt
1:00 to 2:00 pm
CODE: 071GBCG4
Do you want to grow water plants, but don’t have space for an entire pond? Join the Longwood Gardens water plant experts to see the exciting aquatic plants you can grow in small containers. Learn which containers work best, specific needs aquatics have,  maintenance requirements during the growing season, and how to overwinter your wonderful water garden addition.

Trough Gardening
with David Culp
1:00 to 2:00 pm
CODE: 071GBCG5
Watch and learn the art of trough and small container gardening. David will share hints and information to make your trough or small “rock garden” container a success. Admire the beauty of the smaller plants that sparkle and show off in their special place in the trough garden. David will demonstrate how to plant, place, and care for a sun and shade trough garden.

Plant a Container—Choose between Shade or Sun Container

with Roger Davis & John Ritterson
Saturday, June 2, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
FEE: $59
WHERE: Oil Tank Hill
CODE: 071GBCG6

Get your creative juices started as you learn the basics about containers, soils, fertilizers, additives and then use that knowledge to create a container with annuals. A perfect way to implement what you’ve learned all day, or you can just come for this hands-on class and take home a wonderful container. Fee includes 18” clay container, soil, annual plants, and instruction.

Pruning Small Trees

Saturday, June 16, 9:00 am to Noon
FEE: $49
WHERE: Acer Room
CODE: 071GBPSM
Limited to 15 students.

Keep your small trees healthy and beautiful by learning how, when, and why to prune an assortment of different tree species. This class includes a handout for you to take home detailing the various pruning techniques implemented by Longwood's Arborist staff. Bring any questions you have regarding pruning or caring for your small trees. Dress for outdoor weather.

INSTRUCTOR: Peter Fixler is an ISA certified arborist and has been practicing arboriculture for 9 years. He has worked at Longwood Gardens for over 2 years coming from commercial tree care companies Bartlett Tree Experts and The Care of Trees. Proper pruning is his passion.

Register now!