Gardening Fundamentals Class
CLASS IS FULL!
Please contact Diana Alfuth, UW-Madison Extension, Horticulture Outreach Specialist to be put on a list for next year’s class. You can email Diana at diana.alfuth@wisc.edu
Are you interested in learning more about gardening and how to take care of your yard and landscape? Would you like to become a Wisconsin Master Gardener volunteer, and help your community better understand gardening and nature? If so, join in on the “Gardening Fundamentals” class being offered by Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Outreach Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension. This 8-week course will combine in-person and virtual classes and will cover a broad range of gardening and horticulture topics.
Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. beginning September 28 through November 16. In-person sessions will be held at the Extension office in Baldwin, Wisconsin, on September 28, October 5, October 26, and November 16, and virtual sessions via Zoom will be held on October 12 and 19 and November 2 and 9.
Topics covered will include Botany for Gardeners, Soils and Fertility, Diseases and Insects, Fruits and Vegetables, Woody Trees and Shrubs, Lawns, Weeds, Integrated Pest Management, Houseplants, Composting and more.
For those wishing to become a certified Wisconsin Master Gardener, this course provides the required horticulture training necessary to enroll in the Master Gardener Onboarding program available in January. Information on how to become a Master Gardener will be provided during this class.
There is no charge for the class, but registration is required as space is limited. For questions or to register for the class, email diana.alfuth@wisc.edu and provide your name, address, telephone number and email.
Posted August 31, 2022
Grow Great Gardens with Gusto! – 8 Weeks beginning Sept. 27th, classes are mixture of in-person and online.
Are you interested in learning more about gardening and how to take care of your yard and landscape? Would you like to become a Wisconsin Master Gardener volunteer, and help your community better understand gardening and nature? If so, join in on the “Grow Great Gardens with Gusto” class being offered by Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Outreach Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension. This 8-week course will combine in-person and virtual classes and will cover a broad range of topics. Click here for more info and how to register →. Grow great gardens flyer 2021
Spring 2021 Classes – Getting the most from your Vegetable Garden class handouts – veg garden powerpoint
Tomato Class (Zoom) Handouts – click here Tomato Handout
Master Gardener 2020 Fall Session –
Training classes for those interested in becoming a Wisconsin Master Gardener Volunteer will be offered this fall during October and November. Due to social distancing requirements and limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the training will be offered via 8 live Zoom on-line sessions, supplemented with videos and other activities.
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who aid the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension by helping people in their communities better understand horticulture, gardening and the environment. Participants are required to attend training classes, complete a standard background check, and pass a final exam to begin volunteering. After contributing 24 hours of volunteer service, participants will be certified as a Wisconsin Master Gardener volunteer.
The training will cover a wide variety of topics, including basic botany, soil science, plant diseases, insects, trees and shrubs, lawn care, flowers and houseplants, wildlife, native plants, composting, fruits and vegetables, and more. The cost for the program is $60 per individual, or $90 for two people from the same household who will share written materials. Materials include a Foundations in Horticulture training manual, other course materials and newsletters.
Live Zoom training sessions will be held on Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30 p.m., from October 5 through November 23. Registration is due by September 25, 2020. For questions about the Wisconsin Master Gardener program, please email diana.alfuth@wisc.edu or call the Pierce County Extension office at 715-273-6781. Click here for a brochure – MG_Fall_Class_Brochure 2020
Garden “U” 2020 – Saturday March 21st, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Hudson House Hotel (1600 Crest View Dr., Hudson WI 54016) Must register. Join us as we listen to speakers talk on Wildflowers, Hostas, and Bees! Vendor booths from local businesses will be available during lunch and breaks. Fee is $40 includes lunch. Click here for registration form and more info. → Garden U 2020
Become a Master Gardener –
Master Gardener Volunteer training will be offered by University of Wisconsin Extension beginning September 11, 2019, at the St. Croix County Agricultural Service and Education Center in Baldwin. For more info. on the program and registration form click→ MG_Fall_Class_Brochure 2019
Junior Garden U for Kids By Diana Alfuth, UW-Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist
Kids ages 6-12 are invited to learn about gardening and nature at the annual “Junior Garden U” event to be held on Monday evening, July 29, 2019, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in River Falls at the UW-Extension Demonstration and Learning Garden at the Grow to Share Community Garden near Hoffman Park, the hands-on workshop is sponsored by UW-Extension and taught by Master Gardeners.
Using a variety of activities taught by St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners and UW-Extension staff, kids will learn about growing food, the environment and the natural world around them. The Demonstration Garden has a section dedicated as a “Superhero Garden” which will be utilized to help kids learn about different types and colors of vegetables, the ecosystem within and beyond the garden, and how to help plants grow and be productive.
Cost per child is $5.00 which covers snacks and project materials (when registering let us know if there are any food allergies) – To register, send the child’s name, age, phone number and an email address to Pierce County UW-Extension, P. O. Box 69, 432 W. Main Street, Ellsworth, WI 54011. For more information, call (715) 273-6781 or email Diana.alfuth@wisc.edu.
Managing Weeds in Lawns, Gardens and Landscapes – May 15, 2019
Weeds are the enemy in gardens and landscapes, causing frustration and even heartbreak for gardeners and homeowners. The battle against weeds takes many forms depending on the location, the weeds involved, and other factors. It’s a battle we can win, however, with proper management and prevention techniques. There are ways to reduce labor and have a beautiful landscape or productive garden with minimal weeds among your desired plants.
Diana Alfuth, UW-Extension Horticulture Outreach specialist, will help you learn about ways to control weeds in your lawns, gardens and landscapes. Information about different types of weeds, how to identify weeds, different prevention methods, and control of weeds will be covered.
The “Managing Weeds in Gardens, Lawns and Landscapes” class will be held on May 15, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the upper level community room at the River Falls Public Library, 140 Union Street, River Falls. The class is free, but space is limited so pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot in the class, please call the Pierce County UW-Extension office at (715) 273-6781. For more information, contact diana.alfuth@wisc.edu.
Learn to Prevent Diseases in Your Vegetable Garden Workshop – March 13th 2018 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the River Falls Public Library. Free class but MUST register. Call to register 715-273-6781
Was your vegetable garden the victim of diseases last year? Did your tomatoes die off from blight, ending the harvest early? Did you have spots and blotches on your vegetable plant leaves or fruits? Unfortunately, plant diseases are a part of gardening, but there are many things you can do to prevent diseases, or at least reduce them to a tolerable level. Understanding how diseases occur, and how and when to prevent or control them, will make your vegetable growing endeavors more successful and fun!
Dr. Brian Hudelson, Director of the University of Wisconsin Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic will discuss Diseases of Tomatoes and Other Vegetables at a presentation at the River Falls Public Library on Tuesday, March 13, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, and admission is free but space is limited so pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot in this class, please call us at 715-273-6781. *Diana Alfuth, Pierce County UW Extension Horticulture Educator
Master Gardener Program:
- The Master Gardener Program will be offered on 8 Wednesday evenings and 2 Saturday mornings at the St. Croix County Agricultural Service and Education Center in Baldwin, Wisconsin. Class size is limited. Classes will be held on the following days:
- Mondays from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.
September 11, 18, 25
October 2, 9, 30
November 6 - Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
October 21
November 4
- Mondays from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.
Register by September 1st, 2017
Brochure with Registration Form: MG_Fall_Class_Brochure 2017
Newsletters/Events from St. Croix County – St. Croix County UWEX Horticulture Webpage
Resources:
University of Wisconsin – Extension Horticulture Publications
- http://learningstore.extension.wisc.edu – Visit this web site to review and directly download UW-Extension publications in horticulture or other subjects. Tree and shrub species selection, plant variety, pest control and cultural recommendations are readily available with color pictures.
- http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wihort/ – This web site is from the UW-Madison Horticulture Department. It includes recently produced Urban Horticulture publications. Detailed horticulture subjects not covered above can likely be found here.
- http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/ – This web site is from the University of Minnesota Extension and has very good horticulture publications relevant to the St. Croix Valley.
