October 26th, November 2nd & November 9th, 2024
Saturday sessions from 9am-2pm
All sessions are in-person classes at the Garden.
Delve into the essentials of maintaining a low-water garden with a climate-appropriate plant palette. Each session is structured to provide practical advice, hands-on demonstrations and in-depth discussions that will empower you to care for your own dry garden, adapting to your local climate and soil conditions.
This series is tailored for both enthusiastic beginners and seasoned gardeners looking to specialize in the sustainable practice of cultivating dry gardens, which can be stunning landscapes but also waterwise and low maintenance. Each session includes four separate lectures.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden began in the 1970s as a pioneering experiment focused on exclusively using low-water plants – such as cacti, succulents and other plants from summer dry regions- in landscape design. The Dry Garden Maintenance series draws on the lessons and unique history of Ruth’s garden to educate and train today’s homeowners and professional landscapers on how to maintain beautiful, healthy, and long-lasting gardens in a climate-appropriate, sustainable manner.
Program Description
In this series, students will build a strong foundation of knowledge about horticultural practices and maintenance in low-water, climate-resilient landscapes. Topics will include pruning, pest management, soil management, irrigation, propagation, transplanting and seasonal maintenance tasks.
Each session (comprised of four one-hour lectures) is from 9am-2pm with a 30-minute lunch break. Classes will be led by current and past Ruth Bancroft Garden staff from the Garden, Nursery and Landscape Design Services departments.
Location
The classes are in-person at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. Recordings or a webinar option will not be available for this series.
Scholarship Opportunity
We are offering a need-based partial scholarship to one student. The application form can be found here. The online form is due before August 1st, 2024. All applicants (awarded or not) will be informed by August 15th, 2024.
Registration Steps
Limited spots open for registration. When you register for a session, you’re signing up for four lectures. Details about the lectures can be found below. Each session covers different topics.
Take all three sessions (and get a discount!) for a comprehensive approach or choose the sessions that cover the topics that you’re interested in.
Session One schedule (10/26)
Session Two schedule (11/2)
Session Three schedule (11/9 )
Receive a discount when you register for all three sessions!
Bundle registration for Session One, Two & Three
Refund Policy
A registration refund request up to one week prior to the start of the program are subject to a 30% cancellation fee. A refund request less than one week prior to the start of the program is non-refundable. The Garden does not issue credits for future programs or events.
Questions about the Dry Garden Maintenance Program?
Contact the Program Director at alice@ruthbancroftgarden.org
Class Details:
To learn more about the classes, click on the plus sign (“+”).
Dry Garden Botany 101 | Session One
Date: 10/26 (Sat) @ 9-10am PT
Description: With a specific emphasis on dry garden plants, brush up on all things botany and prepare to embark on the complete series armed with the necessary background. Through this course, you will gain a solid understanding of the scientific classification of plants into various families, along with an overview of plant structures, functions, and remarkable diversity.
Pruning & General Care (Fall) | Session One
Date: 10/26 (Sat) @ 10:15-11:15am PT
Description: It’s crucial to prepare for cooler and wetter months ahead for your succulents and herbaceous plants. This lecture is designed to equip gardeners of all skill levels with the knowledge and techniques necessary to maintain and enhance the health and aesthetics of a low-water landscape during the fall season.
Sheet mulching, Planting and General Mulching | Session One
Date: 10/26 (Sat) @ 11:30am-12:30pm PT
Description: Maximize the health and resilience of your garden by learning about sheet mulching and other effective mulching techniques specifically tailored for low-water gardens. Learn how to conserve water, suppress weeds and enhance general soil health with different mulch types as well as timing and frequency of mulch application.
Date: 10/26 (Sat) @ 1-2pm PT
Description: Learn about the principles and practices of organic pest control techniques used at the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery. Students will be introduced to the concept of IPM (integrated pest management) and learn how to identify common pests that are found in dry garden plant palettes. The instructors will cover a variety of methods of preventing and controlling pests as well as the importance of not relying on synthetic pesticides.
Pruning & General Care (Winter) | Session Two
Date: 11/2 (Sat) @ 9-10am PT
Description: Winter conditions in a summer-dry climate can be taciturn with fluctuating temperatures and deluges of rain. Learn about proper frost protection and general weeding advice for your succulents and herbaceous plants. This lecture is designed to equip gardeners of all skill levels with the knowledge and techniques necessary to maintain and enhance the health and aesthetics of a low-water landscape during the winter season.
Transplanting Large Succulents | Session Two
Date: 11/2 (Sat) @ 10:15-11:15am PT
Description: Replanting and repotting large succulents, especially cacti, can be intimidating and a challenge. But plants eventually outgrow their pots and need space to successfully grow. Learn essential techniques and best practices for successfully transplanting and caring for large succulents. This lecture will also include a step-by-step demo of safe and efficient cactus removal into a new pot.
Pruning & General Care (Spring) | Session Two
Date: 11/2 (Sat) @ 11:30am-12:30pm PT
Description: Learn about the crucial maintenance tasks that dry gardens require as they awaken from winter. We’ll cover techniques specific to pruning succulents and herbaceous plants to stimulate growth and flowering. This lecture is designed to equip gardeners of all skill levels with the knowledge and techniques necessary to maintain and enhance the health and aesthetics of a low-water landscape during the spring season.
Soil Basics in Dry Gardens | Session Two
Date: 11/2 (Sat) @ 1-2pm PT
Description:Soil is the foundation of healthy plants. Join us for a lecture to learn about the content of soil, recommendations for the perfect ratio of materials, and the care that your soil needs in order to keep your dry garden plants healthy and happy. We will also talk about techniques that we’ve employed in recent home garden installations to encourage healthy soil conditions.
Irrigation in Dry Gardens | Session Three
Date: 11/9 (Sat) @ 9-10am PT
Description: Irrigation systems in gardens may seem daunting for some, whether it’s a completely new install or converting a spray system to drip. An irrigation system appropriate for a dry garden is critical for long-term success with your water-wise plant palette. In this introductory class, learn how to assess your landscape and install a drip irrigation system that is suitable for dry gardens.
Pruning & General Care (Summer) | Session Three
Date: 11/9 (Sat) @ 10:15-11:15am PT
Description: Summer can be a challenging time of the year in low-water gardens, especially in summer-dry climates. Learn about best practices for maintaining plant health, conserving water, and ensuring the vibrancy of your garden through the peak of growing season. This lecture is designed to equip gardeners of all skill levels with the knowledge and techniques necessary to maintain and enhance the health and aesthetics of a low-water landscape during the summer season.
Proteaceae- Care & Maintenance | Session Three
Date: 11/9 (Sat) @ 11:30am-12:30pm PT
Description: Proteaceae plants are beloved by many for their unusual and abundant floral displays. But they can also be finicky. We’ll talk about best planting practices, pruning recommendations, fertilizer amendments and soil/water requirements for these Australian and South African plants.
Propagation/Transplanting Succulents | Session Three
Date: 11/9 (Sat) @ 1-2pm PT
Description: Proteaceae plants are beloved by many for their unusual and abundant floral displays. But they can also be finicky. We’ll talk about best planting practices, pruning recommendations, fertilizer amendments and soil/water requirements for these Australian and South African plants.
