Extension rolls out spring events and resources for gardening season

 University of Nevada, Reno horticulture experts provide research-based solutions statewide
  

LAS VEGAS – As Nevadans start digging out their gardening tools, University of Nevada, Reno Extension is offering free resources and expertise to help their yards and gardens flourish in our state’s often dry, challenging conditions. Highlights include a new Pest Solutions web resource, a series of livestream Grow Your Own, Nevada! online classes to help Nevadans grow their own healthy produce, personal advice from trained Master Gardener volunteers, plant sales and more.

New Pest Solutions online resource

Extension has launched a new user-friendly Pest Solutions website to help residents throughout Nevada safely and effectively manage common yard and garden pests, including both weeds and insects.

“We wanted to provide a one-stop shop for finding answers to managing the most common pests in our state,” said Carrie Jensen, leader for Extension’s integrated pest management program. “We have a lot of information up now, ready for spring, and we’ll continue to add more and more information throughout the summer.”

Grow Your Own, Nevada!

The Grow Your Own, Nevada! Program will livestream eight classes 6 – 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 1 – 24, to help Nevadans grow their own healthy food. Horticulture experts from Extension will share their best tips on:

• April 1: Vertical Edible Gardening, Wendy Hanson Mazet
• April 3: Managing Garden Pests, Megan Andrews
• April 8: Drip Irrigation Demystified, Carrie Jensen
• April 10: Back to Basics, Heidi Kratsch
• April 15: Composting: Hot, Cold and Worm Bins, Heidi Kratsch
• April 17: Growing the Best Tomatoes, Rachel McClure
• April 22: Small Space Fruit Tree Care and Selection, Wendy Hanson Mazet
• April 24: Native Plants to Attract Pollinators, Carrie Jensen

Classes are free and held via Zoom, but residents must register online for every class they wish to attend.

For more information on classes, email Megan Andrews at meganandrews@unr.edu. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at plessick@unr.edu or 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.

Master Gardeners volunteers

Those with yard and gardening questions can submit queries online to Master Gardeners for research-based information for Nevada’s climate and conditions. In Clark County, Master Gardener volunteers also staff a help desk at the Extension office, 8050 Paradise Road, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Talk with them in person, or contact them at 702-257-5556 or ExtensionClarkMG@unr.edu. The Master Gardener Home Gardening Help Desk at Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., is open to visitors 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

Visit the general Master Gardener website to find contact information for several Extension offices throughout the state that have Master Gardeners ready to assist. Master Gardeners also staff booths at farmers markets and other events throughout the spring and summer to provide research-based gardening information and answer questions.

For those interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer, or gaining more gardening knowledge through Extension’s Home Horticulture Certificate Program, registration will begin May 1 for weekly classes beginning Aug. 7 and concluding Oct. 3. For more information on classes, cost and requirements, email Master Gardener Coordinator Katelyn Brinkerhoff at katelynbrinkerhoff@unr.edu.

Desert Gardening Series and other workshops

Extension offers free classes on a variety of gardening topics 10 a.m. – noon on the third Thursday of each month, in the Master Gardener classroom at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas. Topics include:

• March 20: Toxins in the Garden
• April 17: Honeybees
• May 15: Adventures in Backyard Gardening
• June 19: Caring for Cacti

In addition, Extension is offering these workshops in Clark County help gardeners troubleshoot during their spring gardening:

• March 19 and 26, 8 a.m. – noon: Tree Pests and Diseases workshop at the Extension office, 8050 Paradise Road, Las Vegas
• March 22: Ask the Experts at Extension’s Research and Demonstration Orchard, 4600 Horse Drive, North Las Vegas. The Research and Demonstration Orchard is also open to the public Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 8 a.m. – noon, and tours are available upon request.

For birdwatchers

The Research and Demonstration Orchard will offer a Red Rock Audubon Society Bird Walk and Tour on March 15, 9 a.m. – noon. Also, Red Rock Audubon Ambassadors and Extension Master Gardeners will host a Slow Bird Walk at the Extension Botanic Gardens on April 8, 9 – 10:30 a.m.