All gardeners know they are never alone in the garden. Insects, birds, earthworms, fungi, deer, voles, and many other creatures may visit or live among our plants and in the soil. The greater the diversity of plants in your garden, the more life it can support, and many home gardeners are interested in applying a sustainability lens to their gardening practices.
In our first online course, instructor Sarah Bailey (former statewide program coordinator at the University of Connecticut’s Master Gardener program) explores what we mean by "sustainable gardening," what the term “native” means, and why a diverse native plant population is important. The course also touches on how home gardeners might employ the tenets and tactics of Integrated Pest Management including, in particular, the predictive value of measuring Growing Degree Days.
What does it mean? How do you do it? We'll start with the foundational steps to a successful garden including healthy soil, prepping your garden area, and proper planting techniques.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Here we'll focus on ways to prevent pests using cultural and physical barriers, how to scout for pests, which damage is normal and which isn't, and some tips for recordkeeping.
We’re going to look at a process for predicting pest problems that adjusts for varying weather patterns and provides visual cues in the environment around you.
My name is Sarah Bailey, and I’ve been weeding, watering, designing, and maintaining gardens for well over two decades. In that time, we’ve learned how vital it is that our gardens not only be places of beauty but also reliable habitat for our native fauna. In particular, we’ve learned how important it is to support the native insect population, which is the foundation of a healthy habitat, or ecosystem.
A couple of things to know before you sign up: