Media Release

​ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce the following Environmental & Community Horticulture Programs for March 2017. These programs are being offered by Dr. Denise DeBusk, Environmental & Community Horticulture Agent, at the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office (2800 N.E. 39 Avenue, Gainesville) unless otherwise indicated.

Managing Pests on Your Favorite Plants – March 4, from 11 a.m. to noon and March 5, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gainesville Home & Garden Show, Stephen O’Connell Center (250 Gale Lemerand Drive, Gainesville)

Plants, such as podocarpus, gardenia, camellia, and pyracantha, have a variety of insects and diseases that can affect them. Learn about these pests and how to manage them without using harsh pesticides.

There is no cost for this workshop.

Vegetable Gardening 101 – March 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This workshop is for the beginner gardener that wants to create a productive vegetable garden. Topics include setting up your garden space, fertilization, micro-irrigation, and pest and disease control. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Registration is $35.00 for class or $50 per couple. Participants can register online (for an additional fee). There are no refunds for registration costs. Space is limited to 25 participants.

Irrigating Your Edible Garden– March 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This workshop teaches about the different water needs of vegetables and fruit and how to calculate their water output. Participants will also learn about micro-irrigation and take home a plan for watering their garden.  Water Regional Specialized Agent, Charles Barrett, will lead the workshop.

Registration is $5.00 for class. Participants can register online (for an additional fee). There are no refunds for registration costs. Space is limited to 30 participants.

Propagating Camellias by Air Layering and Pruning Camellias – March 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Kanapaha Botanical Gardens (4700 SW 58 Drive, Gainesville).

The workshop will cover why and how to propagate camellias by air layering, and how to prune camellias to shape them and reduce pests and disease. The workshop will include a demonstration of air layering and pruning in the Camellia/Azalea Garden. The workshop will be led by Master Gardener and member of the Gainesville Camellia Society, Irma Velez.

Participants can register online (without a fee). The workshop is free, but participants must pay the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens entrance fee ($8) at the door (no cost for members).

Self-Watering Container Gardening – March 23, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This workshop teaches how to build self-watering tomato containers with supplies that can easily be found locally. Additional information on how to use the containers and what grows in them will be presented. A self-watering container is provided as well as a tomato transplant with everything needed to grow healthy, tasty tomatoes.

Registration is $20.00 for class and container; $5.00 for class only. Participants can register online (for an additional fee). There are no refunds for registration costs. The workshop is limited to 25 participants.

FFL Series: Water Efficiently – March 30, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This workshop provides information on how to water yards efficiently and use irrigation systems properly. It will include hands-on training on calibrating irrigation systems and micro-irrigation. Participants should bring their water bills and will receive handbooks, materials, and snacks.

Registration is $15.00 for class or $20 per couple. Participants can register online (for an additional fee). There are no refunds for registration costs. This workshop is limited to 30 participants.

For more information about these programs call 352-955-2402. Visit the Extension Office Calendar for additional programs offered by the Extension Office.

An Equal Opportunity Institution. Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place, Dean. Single copies of Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county Extension offices. Information about alternate formats is available from IFAS Communications, University of Florida, PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.