Gardening Classes

Today more and more people are realizing the physical, social, and psychological benefits of working with nature, and home and community gardening is a great way to make that connection. Whether you are new to gardening or already working in the field, NYBG's gardening classes are a great place to increase your knowledge and improve your skills. Taught by top professionals, each course provides cutting-edge information on ecologically responsible garden care and design, including plant use, soil husbandry, composting, and pest control. Lectures are supported by hands-on study on the Garden's historic grounds. Enroll in a course for fun or pursue a Certificate.

Click here for an overview of the Certificate Program.


March

Create your own kitchen garden designed around the food you love to eat - be it outside your back door or on your windowsill. You'll design a planting plan using historic examples and modern best practices and walk away with more...
233GAR155O 03/29 We 6:00pm-8:00pm Novak
ONLINE

Dubbed "pioneering design talents of their generation" by the Royal Horticultural Society, Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg believe both the landscapes they design and the business they run must be respectful, inclusive, and ethically responsible. The duo will highlight their more...
233GAR801DO 03/30 Th 11:00am-12:00pm Harris
Bugg
ONLINE

April

This one-day course covers the basics of pruning evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs, as well as how to maintain the woody plants in your garden. Bring your pruners! We will discuss tool selection and maintenance, while we practice techniques using more...
234GAR236 04/01 Sa 10:00am-2:30pm Perkowski
NCNC

Since autumn is the optimum season to plant bulbs, now is the time to decide what will work best in your garden. In this class, you'll receive an overview of bulbs-what they are and how to properly plant them. Common more...
234GAR287O 04/04 Tu 5:00pm-6:30pm Hagen
ONLINE

Herbs are a perennial favorite for backyard, container, rooftop, and apartment gardeners. Medicinal, dye, ornamental, and culinary herbs offer benefits to you as a gardener and to your garden ecosystem. In this introductory course, learn how to set up a more...
234GAR333O 04/04 Tu 6:15pm-7:45pm Novak
ONLINE

Explore the plethora of spring-blooming perennials and woody plants native to the Northeast, including underutilized gems such as Spring Beauties, Wild Pink, Running Serviceberry, and Azaleas. Study their ecological benefits such as feeding early-emerging pollinators, as well as the cultural more...
234GAR216O 04/07 Fr 9:30am-11:30am Eierman, EcoBeneficial
ONLINE

Learn how to create a container garden for your patio, terrace, or entryway that's both functional and gorgeous-and helps your plants thrive in all four seasons.
234GAR327AO 04/13 Th 10:00am-12:00pm Marsh
ONLINE

Don't treat your soil like dirt! Rich, nutritious soil makes for large, healthy plants and reduces the need for regular fertilization. Learn the difference between soil structure and texture, how these differences affect plant growth, and how you can modify more...
234GAR104 04/15 Sa 10:00am-12:00pm Himmelman
NCNC

Vegetable Gardening Saturday
Fresh, homegrown vegetables are healthy and flavorful, and don't have to be difficult to grow. Learn how to properly prepare beds and soils; gain key tips on planting and sowing seeds; discover ecologically friendly ways to keep more...
234GAR201A 04/15 Sa 10:00am-5:00pm Gershberg
Satch
Storrs
NYBG

Seed starting is a fun way to expand your garden's potential. This class covers the basics, including choosing what seeds to start and the proper location, lighting, containers, watering techniques, and soil mixes to ensure your success. Receive a packet more...
234GAR201B 04/15 Sa 10:00am-12:00pm Gershberg
NYBG

Vegetables have their own special requirements, and whether you're a novice or an experienced grower, you'll get more from your garden this season usingthese time-tested techniques. The two-hour session covers site selection, bed and soil preparation, optimal planting times, and more...
234GAR201C 04/15 Sa 12:45pm-2:45pm Satch
NYBG

All of your hard work in the garden should produce healthful, nutritious food; so don't let a host of pest problems ruin this for you. Learn a variety of environmentally friendly and sustainable ways to minimize or eliminate pests in more...
234GAR201D 04/15 Sa 3:00pm-5:00pm Storrs
NYBG

Choose the right plant for the right place, based on site-specific design and maintenance criteria. Learn landscape values such as size, texture, color, and flowering and fruiting seasons. Review trees, shrubs, groundcovers, annuals, and perennials suitable for this region.
234HRT358A 04/15 Sa 10:00am-12:40pm D'Antonio
NYBG
234HRT358BBL 04/16 Su 10:00am-1:00pm Nolan
BLENDED
234HRT358CBL 04/16 Su 2:00pm-5:00pm Nolan
BLENDED

This user-friendly intro course surveys the major plant groups-flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and bryophytes-focusing on their form and structure. Become botanically literate and gain practical experience in dissecting and analyzing plant structures.
234HRT300AO 04/18 Tu 10:30am-12:30pm Bucuvalas
ONLINE

Explore the basics of successful, environmentally friendly gardening. Topics include soils and their improvement, seed sowing, vegetative propagation, planting, pruning, watering, weeding, mulching, and disease and pest control. This course is also required for the Horticultural Therapy Certificate.
234GAR301AO 04/20 Th 6:00pm-8:00pm Bakis
ONLINE

Narcissus—the genus of the deservedly ever-popular daffodils—add color and cheer to every garden. In this class, you'll receive an overview of these perennial spring flowering bulbs; their evolution through history, breeding, and cultivation. You'll visit NYBG's Daffodil Hill for a more...
234GAR264 04/22 Sa 2:00pm-4:00pm Hagen
NYBG

Understand how the qualities of soil affect the overall productivity of plants and make sustainable gardening practices possible. Practical application of theory is stressed. Topics include soil formation, physical properties of soil, soil-water relationships, and management techniques such as irrigation, more...
234GAR302O 04/22 Sa 10:30am-12:30pm Bulpitt
ONLINE

Make a great first impression by creating a welcoming entry garden for your home. Learn how to design a stylish front garden. Review examples that work for different architectural styles, and develop plant liststhat fit the specific needs of every more...
234GAR326O 04/22 Sa 11:00am-1:00pm Beyers
ONLINE

In 1970 more than 20 million Americans coast-to-coast took to the streets to advocate for a healthy, sustainable planet, marking the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Today our collective Earth work must continue with even greater urgency. As part more...
234HRT814 04/22 Sa 11:00am-12:00pm Van Aken
NYBG

Myths abound about how hard it is to care for this ever-popular orchid. Dispel them with plenty of sensible advice on how to treat your phalaenopsis so that it blooms year after year. Light, water, nutrients, repotting, and root care more...
234GAR213BO 04/27 Th 6:00pm-8:00pm Satch
ONLINE

Orchids are most often associated with tropical paradises and exotic climates but these perennial herbs are actually native to every continent except Antarctica. Hardy orchids are those genera that can survive winter conditions outdoors in temperate or colder climates. In more...
234GAR213AO 04/29 Sa 11:00am-1:00pm Schmidt
ONLINE

This user-friendly intro course surveys the major plant groups-flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and bryophytes-focusing on their form and structure. Become botanically literate and gain practical experience in dissecting and analyzing plant structures.
234HRT300BO 04/29 Sa 10:30am-12:30pm Day Nishiura
ONLINE
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