Mass Aggie Seminars

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2009 Mass Aggie Seminars
Home Garden Series

Date	Program	Location	Time	Fee

Feb. 28	Growing & Pruning Apples in the Home Garden	Topsfield/Peabody	9am-3:30pm	$75
Mar. 7	No bad apples -- Dealing with Apple Pests	Topsfield	9am-2:30pm	$75
Mar. 14	Growing & Pruning Peaches, Plums, & Cherries	Wrentham	9am-2:30pm	$75
March 21	Weeds, Insects, & Diseases in the Home Landscape	Topsfield	9am-3:30pm	$75
March 28	Growing & Pruning Berries in the Home Garden	Northboro	9am-2:30pm	$75
April 4	Growing and pruning grapes	Belchertown	9am-2:30pm	$75
April 18	Grafting Apple Trees, A Hands-on Workshop	Belchertown	9am-2:30pm	$75
April 25	Pruning Ornamental Trees & Shrups	Bridgewater	9am-12:30pm	$50

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Date	Program/Time/Location	Description
Feb. 28	Growing and Pruning Apples in the Home Garden Dr. Wesley Autio 9:00AM-3:30PM Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield, MA & Brooksby Farm, Peabody, MA	The visual experience of flowering fruit trees in the home landscape is surpassed only by the delicious variety of summer and fall fruits which they produce. Growing apples successfully can be a horticultural challenge, but it can be done! Wes Autio will present an in‑depth program on how to grow apples in the home landscape. Varieties, rootstocks, young‑tree care, nutrition, and training will be covered in the morning. In the afternoon, the class will move to Brooksby Farm for a hands-on apple pruning workshop. Participants will have the opportunity to conduct actual pruning and gain both experience and confidence in pruning fruit trees in order to produce a bountiful crop. $75 per person*
Mar. 7	No Bad Apples – Dealing with Apple Pests Dr. Daniel Cooley 9:00AM-2:30PM Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield, MA	The first step in dealing with the rots and worms in home apple trees is knowing what they are, and why they are causing you problems. With a little know-how, you can increase your chances of growing a healthy crop of apples. Dan Cooley will help participants with the basics of identification and control of the most important apple insects and diseases. Plenty of opportunity will be provided to ask questions and discuss control of the problem pests. $75 per person
Mar. 14	Growing and Pruning Peaches, Cherries, & Plums in the Home Garden Mr. Jon Clements 9:00AM-2:30PM The Big Apple, Wrenthem, MA	Although we are on the northern edge of successful stone-fruit growing country, nothing beats the mid-summer taste of home-grown peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherries. Culture is surprisingly easy if you follow the suggestions presented by Jon Clements in this seminar. In the morning, site and variety/rootstock selection, nutritional needs, and pest management recommendations will be covered to insure your success. Pruning stone fruits is not the same as apples. In the afternoon, participants will be guided through the annual pruning process beginning with young trees progressing to mature trees. This hands-on workshop is an opportunity to learn how to prune peaches, plums, and cherries to achieve a good balance of vegetative growth, fruit buds, and tree health. $75 per person*
Mar. 21	Weeds, Insects, & Diseases in the Home Landscape & Garden Mr. Randall Prostak, Mr. Robert Childs, Mr. Daniel Gillman 9:00AM-3:30PM Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield, MA	Everyone who gardens battles a host of organisms whose goals include killing or maiming your favorite plants or taking their water and nutrients. During this day-long program, Randy Prostak, Bob Childs, and Dan Gillman will describe 10 each of the most common and problematic weeds, insects, and diseases in the home landscape, lawn, and garden. Participants will learn how to identify and control these troublesome pests. Organic strategies will be included. Plenty of opportunity will be provided to ask questions. $75 per person
Mar. 28	Growing & Pruning Berries in the Home Garden Ms. Sonia Schloemann 9:00AM-2:30PM Tougas Family Farm, Northboro, MA	Edible Landscaping has been gaining popularity in recent years. Many types of berries fit well into an edible home landscape. The pleasure of walking out to the backyard berry patch for a sweet handful of berries is matched with some surprising ornamental qualities offered by these plants. Sonia Schloemann will present an in‑depth program on how to grow various types of berries in the home landscape. Site and soil requirements, planting systems, cultural practices, and pest control will be covered in the morning. Pruning berries can be confusing. In the afternoon, participants will develop an understanding of the general principles of pruning blueberries and raspberries. Participants will have the chance for hands‑on experience in pruning some bushes after receiving instruction. $75 per person*
Apr. 4	Growing & Pruning Grapes in the Home Garden Dr. Duane Greene 9:00AM-2:30PM UMass Cold Spring Orchard, Belchertown, MA	Grapes are one of the most universally enjoyed fruits available. Many of the new varieties have excellent taste, are winter hardy, and can make excellent wine. Grapes are fun to grow but present some challenges. Duane Greene will help participants through the basics and give them the tools to overcome some of the challenges. Specific topics will include selecting varieties, planting, fertilizing, controlling pests, pruning, and training. Participants will have the opportunity to conduct actual pruning and gain both experience and confidence in pruning and training grapes in order to produce a bountiful crop. $75 per person*
Apr. 18	Grafting Apple Trees, A Hands-on Workshop Dr. Wesley Autio 9:00AM-2:30PM UMass Cold Spring Orchard, Belchertown, MA	Many people do not realize that all apple varieties are reproduced by grafting – they do not grow true from seed. For horticultural enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying techniques to master is grafting. Wes Autio will present a hands-on workshop on “bench grafting” and “cleft grafting” of apple trees. Other grafting techniques will be discussed. Proper tools and sharpening will be discussed. All participants in the workshop will graft several of their own apple trees to take home. $75 per person*
Apr. 25	Pruning Ornamental Trees & Shrubs Dr. Dennis Ryan 9:00AM-12:30PM Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA	There is no need to be afraid of pruning, but your efforts will be much more successful after this educational program and demonstration. Dennis Ryan will guide participants through the art and science of pruning ornamental trees and shrubs in the home landscape. Pruning tools, basic pruning techniques, and pruning safety will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to observe Dr. Ryan prune trees and shrubs in a landscape setting. $50 per person*

*Pruning and grafting workshops will be out of doors, please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cold, and muddy conditions.Some pruning tools will be available for pruning workshops, but please bring your own if possible.