You look out the window, you see mountains of snow. Your lawnmower is sitting stone cold in the garage. A thaw seems so far away, you can’t recall the sweet smell of freshly cut grass.
Take heart — that lawn will emerge in a few months. Be ready to nurture it, and sustain your own hopes of spring at the same time, by attending the LaPorte Park and Recreation Department’s series of four free sessions on gardening and lawn care.
The presentations will all take place at the park department office building at 250 Pine Lake Ave. All four sessions begin at 9 a.m. and last for about an hour. The presentations will cover a variety of topics. Here’s the schedule:
– Saturday, Feb. 15: “Rain Barrels and Landscape Water Conservation.” Learn about rain barrels and how to conserve water and benefit the environment. Get tips on rainwater harvesting, the use of native plants to conserve water, mulching, and other backyard conservation practices. Presenters are Nicole Messacar, education coordinator at the LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Steve Sass, president of the North Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society.
– Saturday, March 1: “Composting and Organic Gardening.” You hear people talk about it and you can sometimes find a bag with that word on it at the local lawn and garden store. But what is it, really? At this session, topics will include: what happens in a compost pile, better ingredients mean better compost, simple compost recipes, overwintering your compost pile, and how to use compost.
– Saturday, March 15: “Lawn to Lake.” Lawns are a significant feature in the urban landscape. These often heavily managed landscapes have the potential to contribute to runoff pollution due to over-fertilization, over-application of pesticides and over-watering. Lawn to Lake is a collaborative program that promotes healthy lawn and landscape practices that protect our lakes and streams. The presenter for this session is Joe Exl, senior water resource planner for the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission.
– Saturday, March 29: “Lawn Care Basics.” What you do to your lawn is more important than what you apply. Learn basic mowing techniques, how and when to water, whether you should bag your grass or leave it there, and other ways to put the green back in your lawn. The presenter for this session is David Millar, who was owner of Red Hen Turf Farm for over 25 years. He teaches turf lessons for the Purdue Master Gardener Program in two counties. He likes to help people sort through the marketing hype that confronts homeowners so they can have an environmentally responsible lawn.
For more information on these free sessions, contact the park department at 326-9600.