Earth-Kind landscape school will be April 10-12 in Dallas

Attendees will learn landscape design, plant selection, planting and management skills

DALLAS — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present its Earth-Kind Landscape Design and Management School April 10-12 in Building E of the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road in Dallas, said program coordinators.

Program times will be from 6-9:30 p.m. April 10, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 11 and from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 12.

“During this unique educational experience, attendees will learn how to design, plant and manage a landscape that is beautiful and low-maintenance, as well as heat and drought tolerant,” said Dr. Steve George, AgriLife Extension landscape specialist at the center.

George is the lead course instructor and also will conduct all of the post-course landscape design consultations included in the program. He is the creator of the Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management System, which “combines the best of traditional horticulture and organic gardening to create stunning, low-maintenance landscapes that provide maximum protection for the environment,” he explained.

“This course will be presented in a very time- and travel-efficient format, and will consist of an in-depth classroom program, outdoor laboratory session and a field trip to tour Earth-Kind plant variety trials,” he said.

An extended, personalized design consultation will be given a few weeks after the program ends, George said.

He said no prior design, plant, or landscape management knowledge is needed, and those attending the school will learn how to:

— Design, plant and manage a beautiful, low-maintenance, environmentally responsible landscape.

— Work with Mother Nature to protect homes and communities.

— Reduce irrigation use in landscape beds by 70 percent, and almost totally eliminate the use of fertilizers and harsh pesticides on the plants, as well as greatly reduce the amount of pruning needed.

“During the field trip portion of the program, we will tour the latest Earth-Kind field trials on herbaceous perennials, landscape roses and crape myrtles,” he said.

Program topics will include basic landscape design principles; destination gardens, landscaping with low-maintenance Earth-Kind roses; selecting the right landscape plants and turfgrass; choosing and working with a retail nursery; and Earth-Kind environmental soil management and irrigation techniques.

George said those attending will receive “a wealth of landscape knowledge and leave with a working plan for landscaping an area of their own choosing.”

The cost is $295 per household and includes all class materials and programming.

“Class size is limited, so you will want to enroll as soon as possible,” George said.

For more information and to get an information sheet for enrollment, contact Kimberly Betancourt at 972-952-9211 or kim.betancourt@ag.tamu.edu.

-30-