Online Classes & Virtual Plant Clinic
Virtual Plant Clinic
Join us bi-weekly for Q&A sessions with Plant Specialist David Yost on Zoom and Facebook Live. In these 45 minute sessions, David will cover a seasonal topic and take questions from the audience. These topics are often decided just a couple of days in advance based on the weather, or what we’ve been seeing in the plant clinic, but you can sign up ahead of time here.
If you prefer to see the live stream on Facebook, you can join us there.
Upcoming Plant Clinics:
- Thursday, August 26: No Plant Clinic
- Thursday, September 9: Topic TBD
- Thursday, September 23: Topic TBD
Webinars & Online Classes
Our fall classes will start up after labor day! Keep an eye out in mid-August for our schedule. You can sign up for email if you are interested in getting notifications of new classes straight to your inbox.
Fall and Winter Containers
Thursday, September 9, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Peg Bier, Merrifield Plant and Design Specialist
Get the most out of your fall container gardens by creating ones that can be transitioned to winter. In this class, Peg will discuss the plants that will carry your containers through the winter, as well as tips for transitioning them successfully into winter.
Gardening for the Birds
Tuesday, September 14, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Andy Johnson, Merrifield Plant and Wildlife Specialist
Get the tips and recommendations you need to attract your favorite local birds to your garden this fall. Andy will cover the ways you can provide food and water sources, plants, and shelter to support our native birds.
Great Native Plants for Green Gardens
Tuesday, September 21, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Instructor: Louis Ratchford, Merrifield Plant and Design Specialist
Old-fashioned green gardens make for beautiful, relaxing spaces in the landscape. Prior to the introduction of plants from Japan, gardeners in our region relied on a variety of natives to create these texture gardens. Louis will discuss the plants you can use to create this look today, for both sun and shade.
This class will last 2 hours. In one hour, Louis will cover native plants for sunny green gardens, and in the second hour, he will cover native plants for shady green gardens.
Fall Bulbs
Thursday, September 23, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Peg Bier, Merrifield Plant Specialist
Many of our spring blooming favorites – tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinth and more – bloom from fall-planted bulbs. In this class, Peg will discuss a variety of her favorite bulbs as well as the methods she uses to grow them in her garden and keep them safe through the winter, whether they are planted in containers or in the ground.
Solutions to Landscape Pests
Tuesday, September 28, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Pat Reilly, Merrifield Plant Specialists
In this class, Pat will discuss a number of common and emerging landscape pests, including the signs to look for and methods of prevention and control.
Native Perennials
Tuesday, October 5, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Caitlin Akkerhuis, Merrifield Plant Specialist
Planting natives is a wonderful way to support your local wildlife and ecosystem while adding beauty to the garden. Learn about the many types of native perennials that can bring beauty to your garden this fall, and get tips for taking care of them.
Repotting Houseplants Demo
Thursday, October 7, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Amy Jones, Merrifield Plant Specialist
Learn everything you need to know about repotting houseplants in this live demonstration. Amy will cover the timing, materials and steps needed to repot your houseplants and ensure their continued health in your home. Bring questions about any houseplants that you think may need repotting soon.
Deer Resistant Gardening
Tuesday, October 12, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Pat Reilly, Merrifield Plant Specialist
Learn how to prevent deer from turning your garden into their own personal buffet. When working to deter these uninvited guests, it is best to use a variety of tactics to keep them away. Pat will discuss plants, products, fencing and other creative tools you can use to create a deer resistant garden.
Groundcovers
Thursday, October 14, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Peg Bier, Merrifield Plant and Design Specialist
Join Peg as she discusses her favorite groundcovers, including design ideas, environmental requirements and creative ways to employ them in the garden. These plants may have a low profile, but they can have a powerful impact in the garden.
Forcing Bulbs Indoors
Thursday, October 21, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Louis Ratchford, Merrifield Plant and Design Specialist
Learn how to force bulbs for beautiful blooms in indoors! Louis will cover the steps you can take to succeed at this project, as well as tips he’s learned from his own experience. He will cover a variety of bulbs, in particular popular holiday varieties such as Amaryllis and Paperwhites.
Shade Gardens: Part 1
Tuesday, October 26, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Peg Bier, Merrifield Plant and Design Specialist
Shade gardens can be just as beautiful as gardens in sunny spaces! In this class, Peg will discuss plants and design ideas you can implement to create a vibrant space in the shady portions of your garden.
Overwintering Tropicals and Houseplants
Thursday, October 28, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Amy Jones, Merrifield Plant Specialist
In this class, Amy will cover the basics of overwintering your favorite plants, including steps to take before bringing them inside for the winter, supplemental light sources, and issues to watch out for. This class will cover both houseplants you brought outside for the summer as well as tropical plants you originally purchased for use outdoors.
Shade Gardens: Part 2
Tuesday, November 2, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Peg Bier, Merrifield Plant and Design Specialist
Shade gardens can be just as beautiful as gardens in sunny spaces! In this class, Peg will discuss plants and design ideas you can implement to create a vibrant space in the shady portions of your garden.
Winter Interest in the Garden
Thursday, November 4, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Mary Kirk Menefee, Merrifield Landscape Designer
Winter is a the best time of year to show off the beautiful bark, berries and evergreens growing in your garden. Learn ways you can bring beautiful colors and greenery to your landscape even during the coldest season of the year.
Vegetable Gardens: Clean Up and Prep for Next Year
Tuesday, November 9, 12:00 pm
Instructor: Pat Reilly, Merrifield Plant Specialist
As the cold weather arrives, November is the time to clean up our fall vegetable gardens. While completing this task, you can also take steps to give your soil a boost before you plant your next round of crops next year. Pat will cover the steps you can take to make sure your garden is in top form when you resume gardening in the spring.