Presentations on Gardening Available Through the Lake County Office (updated Aug 08)

The following is a list of gardening presentations available from the Lake County office. The majority of these are presented with visuals (slides or power point). To schedule a speaker for your group, please contact Sharon Yiesla at (847) 223-8627. Most programs run a minimum of 45 minutes; programs marked **run longer (time is noted at the end of the program description).

Please call at least 2 months in advance of the date that you need a speaker

The following programs are given only by Horticulturist Sharon Yiesla:

The Fourth Season: The Garden in Winter: Spring brings a renewed desire to garden. By summer, the garden is in full bloom. Fall brings a rich harvest of vegetables and flowers. What about winter? The winter garden can still have beauty, but we must plan for it. By selecting a variety of plants that provide winter interest, the garden can give pleasure all year round. Learn what plants give that winter interest and be planning now for that "fourth season".

**Garden Design and Landscaping Basics: You've spent a great deal of time deciding which plants you want. How can you use those plants to make a beautiful garden? Learn the principles of design that will help you create a special landscape. This presentation will cover the basic of designing with flowers as well as proper placement of trees and shrubs for the best effect. This presentation lasts 1 ½ -2 hours.

Reducing Pesticide Use in the Landscape: Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides and weed killers, among other chemicals. A variety of methods for reducing the use of these chemicals are featured. Basic horticultural practices as well as mechanical and biological controls are covered.

The following topics are presented by either Horticulturist Sharon Yiesla or one of the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Lake County:

Backyard Composting: No, it isn't difficult and no, it doesn't smell!! This program shows the proper way to compost in your own backyard. The focus is on sound composting techniques and clearing up the misconceptions about composting.

**Basic Pruning Techniques: Pruning doesn't have to be difficult. Anyone can learn a few basic techniques to help them tame unruly trees and shrubs. The program covers basic pruning cuts, tools, and the best time to prune different types of trees and shrubs. Program presented with visual aids. Pruning demonstration may be possible, depending on time of year. Basic presentation length is 1 hour (longer if demonstration is included).

Basic Perennial Gardening: Discusses selecting, planting and caring for perennial plants. A number of perennials that are suitable for Northern Illinois are featured in detail. This presentation is intended for individuals who have little or no experience with perennial gardening.

Basic Vegetable Gardening: The basics of growing vegetables are covered in this presentation. The program covers planning the garden (site selection, vegetable selection and supplies), preparing the soil, proper planting techniques, and caring for the established garden. Planting times for warm and cool season vegetables are discussed as well.

Beneficial Insects: Who are the good guys of the insect world and how can we get them into our gardens? This program helps identify common beneficial insects, tells how they benefit gardeners and gives tips for getting the good insects into our gardens and keeping them there.

Container Gardening: The presentation covers the basics of container gardening: how to select a container, which plants to use and proper planting and care of the containers.

Easy Care Native Plants: Many gardeners are looking to use native plants. This presentation focuses on native plants that are relatively low-maintenance. The plants featured were selected because they have few disease and insect problems and they are adapted to a range of growing conditions. The program covers native grasses, perennials, wildflowers, shrubs and trees.

Fall Garden Wrap-Up: What needs to be done to put the garden to bed for the winter? This presentation looks at all aspects of the garden from lawns to flower gardens to trees and shrubs. This presentation made without visuals.

Gardening With Wildflowers: Learn how to use wildflowers in your garden. Find out about the special needs of wildflowers and how they can be incorporated into an existing garden. Several species of wildflowers will be featured.

Ground Covers: This program explains the different types of ground covers and how they grow. Proper planting and care will also be covered. A number of ground covers suitable for use in northern Illinois will be discussed along with a slide presentation.

Herb Gardening: Learn how to start and maintain an herb garden. Many herbs that can be grown in Northern Illinois will be featured, with information on how to grow and when to harvest them. Geared towards individuals new to herb gardening. This presentation covers only gardening with herbs; it does not include cooking. Indoor Gardening (Houseplants): Proper care of houseplants: water, fertilizer, light, humidity. Also includes information on pests that may affect indoor plants.

Native Shrubs: There are many native shrubs that can be used in Northern Illinois landscapes. This program will briefly discuss the use of native plants in general and then feature specific native shrubs. The focus of the program is the selection of native shrubs, not landscaping.

Native Trees: Many people are turning to native plants for their landscape needs. This program will briefly discuss the use of native plants in general and then feature specific native trees. The focus of the program is the selection of native trees, not landscaping.

Ornamental Grasses: Learn about one of the fastest growing trends in gardening, ornamental grasses. Find out what they are, how to grow them, and how they can be used in the garden. A number of different grass species will be featured.

Perennials for Special Uses: Want to attract butterflies or hummingbirds? Have a lot of shade in your garden? Are deer eating you out of house and home? Not every perennial suits every garden. This presentation looks at various perennials and the special uses of each one. Knowing the uses of perennials can help each gardener select the right plants.

Perennials, More Than Poppies and Peonies: You've planted all the easy beginner perennials and you'd like to know what else is out there. You've seen the plants in the garden center, but just didn't know which ones would be right for you. This program is an introduction to some interesting perennials being sold in garden centers and will look at the specific plants and their care. This program is for gardeners who know the basics of growing perennials and who would like to know more about some of the interesting plants available.

**Rose Care: Learn the basics of rose care. This presentation explains how to select and plant roses. It also explains general maintenance such as watering, fertilizing, pruning and winter protection.

Basic rose presentation :45 minutes
Basic presentation plus classes of roses: 1 ½ hours
Basic presentation plus rose pests and problems: 1 ½ hours
Basic plus classes of roses and rose pests/problems: 2 hours

Select the Right Shrub: Thinking about adding some shrubs to your landscape? This program looks at how to select a good shrub for your particular landscape. The program also features a slide show of some shrubs that are lower maintenance and which have good ornamental interest.

Shade Gardening: It's Not Just Hostas: As soon as you mention you have shade, the word hosta enters the conversation. Ever feel like that must be the only shade plant available? Well it's not. There are several good choices that will tolerate various amounts of shade. Learn how to evaluate the amount of shade you have and chose plants that work in your shade garden.

Small Trees for the Landscape: This program will look at some of the smaller ornamental trees for the home landscape. Many common species, and a few lesser-known ones, will be discussed. The focus will be on the pros and cons of each tree, and the tree's use in the landscape.

Spring Flowering Bulbs: The focus is on selecting, planting and caring for spring bulbs. A number of bulbs are discussed in detail; old favorites, as well as some of the less well known bulbs.

Summer Bulbs: The summer bulbs are a group of plants that are often overlooked. Once the tulips and daffodils of spring have faded, we often forget that there are a number of bulbs that provide beauty in summer. This program will look at using and caring for bulbs such as gladiolus, dahlia and caladiums.

The Tropical Garden: Does your garden look like everyone else's? Want to try something different? Then go tropical! This program will explore the use of tropical and tropical-looking plants that can give your yard a new look.

Vines for Your Landscape: Vines can serve many purposes in the landscape. They can soften architectural lines, hide or enhance part of the yard, and add height to a small garden. This presentation looks at a number of different vines that will grow well in northern Illinois. The ornamental features, culture and uses of these vines will be examined.