Learn the Value of Native Plants in Landscapes and How to Avoid Invasives

Osky News

The fourth, and final session of the Summer Webinar Series: Garden Natives and Invasives 2011, hosted by the Iowa Master Gardener program, is scheduled for Aug. 23 to integrate information from previous sessions into practical application. The session, titled “Native Friends and Invading Forces,” will be presented by Rich Pope, Harrison County Extension coordinator.

Iowans curious about the use of native plants in their landscape should attend the Garden Natives and Invasives summer series webinar Aug. 23. The webinar will be hosted by Mahaska County Extension office, 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The webinar is open to the public; Master Gardeners can earn two hours of update training by attending. Attendance in previous sessions is not required.

Pope will offer definitions for “native” and “invasive” plants, as he discusses the importance of native species and related issues with invasive species in Iowa. He will include tips on selection of plant materials for use in landscapes with a better chance of not overstaying or overgrowing their welcome.

“Gardening success is often largely dependent on choosing materials that are adaptable to planting sites,” said Pope. “So we will explore reasonable site adaptations during this session, and look at appropriate and inappropriate uses of native materials.”

The webinar series is made possible by the Iowa Master Gardener program, Iowa State University Extension and Department of Horticulture.

Contact your county extension office for more information about Iowa Master Gardeners or the webinar series. Cost to attend the webinar is $5. To insure an adequate number of handouts, please confirm your attendance the day before the presentation with Suzette Striegel, Mahsaka County Extension Horticulturist (email: striegel@iastate.edu or phone: 641-673-5841). This program will be cancelled if there is less than 5 attending.