"Gardening 101" for Backyard Gardens

"Gardening 101," a series of eight free workshops designed to help residents raise better gardens, has been scheduled for February, March and April by the Parks & Recreation Department.

Each weekly workshop will cover a different topic, from Soil Preparation to Harvesting.

"We know people are looking to do more 'grow-your-own' backyard gardens," said Director Larry Bailey. "That's what this is for. Maybe they're just getting started or want to learn some new and different techniques. Or maybe they want to learn about organic gardening or some other aspect of gardening. We'll cover a wide range of gardening subjects."

He said participants will learn all types of gardening, from pots on the deck to a row garden in the backyard.

All sessions will be held Tuesdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Clayton Center downtown beginning Feb. 15, led by Consumer Horticulture Agent Shawn Banks of the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Service.

Here's the list of workshops:

Feb. 15 - Site Selection and Planting
Feb. 22 - Soil Preparation And Amendments
March 1 - Planting Seeds and Transplants
March 8 - Weed Control Strategies
March 22 - Thinning and Watering
March 29 - Fertility and Scouting
April 5 - Insects and Diseases
April 12 - Harvesting

"People can take one class or the whole series," Bailey said.

Please register by contacting Program Coordinator Matt Lorion at 553-1554 or mlorion@townofclaytonnc.org.

The Department also intends to start a community garden at the Clayton Community Center site in the spring that could be used as a "teaching garden."