Penn State Master Gardeners of Berks County will welcome the public to a morning of gardening mini-workshops on Saturday, September 22 at the Berks County Ag Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Bern Township. The $15 registration includes three one-hour classes, with the option to attend a Hypertufa Planter Workshop for an additional $10 materials fee. Visitors may opt to take the Hypertufa class alone for $15. Enrollees should dress to be outdoors and on their feet for the first three workshops. There are benches and rest spots throughout the gardens. In the event of severe weather, workshops will take place indoors. At 9 a.m., Master Gardener Dee Dee Kerscher will instruct on Right Plant, Right Place, the art of matching plants to their ideal garden locations. This class will be a walking tour of the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens, comprising nine thematic sections, and will discuss how specific plants have been chosen for each location. At 10 a.m., Jim Smoker will demonstrate the art and science of pruning in To Prune or Not to Prune? He will address appropriate tools and techniques, types of pruning cuts, timing and tips. Attendees are asked to bring hand pruners if they have them. At 11 a.m. Doug Reigle will teach Backyard Composting, a way for any gardener to transform yard debris and kitchen scraps into a natural soil amendment. This class will provide the basics of starting or improving a backyard composting site and tips for keeping it productive and trouble free.At noon, Martey Costello will conduct an indoor Hypertufa Workshop. This make-and-take workshop will cover the formulae for hypertufa projects and give pointers on how to choose molds. Attendees will learn the uses of hypertufa in the garden as well as how to mix, form a planter, and dry and season the project. Students should be prepared to get messy.Register online at http://extension.psu.edu/gardening-skills or by phone at 1-877-345-0691.The Berks County Ag Center is handicapped accessible and all parking is free. For more information, call 610- 378-1327.
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