The Saving Water Partnership sponsors free gardening classes in the spring and fall to help you create and maintain beautiful, healthy landscapes that use water wisely.
Sustainable vegetable gardening
Presenter: Ladd Smith, co-owner of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes
Growing your own organic food is a fun and delicious way to garden in the Pacific Northwest. Vegetables, berries, and fruit trees need special care to thrive, but your time and energy will pay off with great tasting, nutritious home-grown food. Best of all, food crops can be incorporated into your existing landscape, large or small! This class will teach you how to make your yard produce great food for you and your family.
Tuesday, April 14
6:30 – 8:00 pm
To register, call (425) 430-7287 or email limhoff@rentonwa.gov
Location: City of Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA 98057
Water smart gardening
Presenter: Jessi Bloom, best-selling author and owner/lead designer of N.W. Bloom EcoLogical Landscapes
Smart watering can mean using nature to water your garden! Gardening in the Pacific Northwest presents many water related challenges – from too much stormwater and drainage problems to several months of drought. Join Jessi Bloom to learn the basics of rain gardens, rain collection, drainage solutions, and great plants for every garden.
Thursday, October 8
6:30 – 8:00 pm
To register, call (206) 362-8100 or email theresah@northcitywater.org
Location: North City Water District, 1519 NE 177th St., Shoreline, WA 98155
Four seasons of color: the year-round garden
Presenter: Marianne Binetti, author and NW horticultural expert
Learn design and planting tips to make your landscape attractive all year long. You will learn secrets for less maintenance and more color using garden art and structures with ideas from show gardens from around the world.
Tuesday, May 5
6:30 – 8:00 pm
To register, call (425) 430-7287 or email limhoff@rentonwa.gov
Location: City of Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA 98057
Thursday, May 7
6:30 – 8:00 pm
To register, call (206) 362-8100 or email theresah@northcitywater.org
Location: North City Water District, 1519 NE 177th St., Shoreline, WA 98155
Thursday, September 3
5:00 – 6:30 pm
To register, call (425) 255-9600 or email info@kcwd90.com
Location: King County Water District 90, 15606 SE 128th St., Renton, WA 98059
Proven tips and techniques for first-time gardeners
Presenter: Peggy Campbell, horticulturist
Get started with simple and fun tips for a beautiful, sustainable and low-maintenance garden. Peggy shares basic techniques that are easy on you and the environment. Discover how to keep weeds out, pests at bay, water use low, and have color year-round.
Saturday, May 2
10:00 – 11:30 am
To register, call (425) 487-4100 or email customerservice@woodinvillewater.com
Location: Woodinville Water District, 17238 NE Woodinville-Duvall Road, Building A, Woodinville, WA 98072
Automatic sprinkler systems: how to water your yard and garden efficiently
Presenter: Mark Guthrie, Landscape Water Conservation Program Manager at the Saving Water Partnership
Have an in-ground irrigation system? Thinking about installing one? Do you want to reduce your water bill while maintaining a beautiful garden and landscape? Mark Guthrie, Landscape Water Conservation Program Manager for the Saving Water Partnership, will explain how you can make your irrigation system more efficient and use less water. Topics include how to set your irrigation timer, choosing the best irrigation equipment for watering plants, and how to use your meter to look for leaks. Although drip irrigation will be discussed, this class will not cover detailed instructions for drip irrigation installation.
Saturday, May 16
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
To register, call (425) 255-9600 or email info@kcwd90.com
Location: King County Water District 90, 15606 SE 128th St., Renton, WA 98059
Less work, better gardens the natural way
Presenter: Ladd Smith, co-owner of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes
Come learn how you can become a more successful gardener and do it with less work. Your garden will be more beautiful, and you will have more joy in it when you learn how to work with Mother Nature. Building healthy soils, watering the right amount and other natural yard care topics will be covered.
Thursday, June 11
5:00 – 6:30 pm
To register, call 425-255-9600 or email info@kcwd90.com
Location: King County Water District 90, 15606 SE 128th St., Renton, WA 98059
Getting plants off to a great start
Presenter: Emily Bishton, Landscape designer and environmental educator
A beautiful garden needs the right start! Emily Bishton will describe how to create healthy soil, what types of mulch to use to reduce evaporation of water from the soil, and the best methods for delivering water to your plants.
Saturday, June 13
10:00 – 11:30 am
To register, call (425) 487-4100 or email customerservice@woodinvillewater.com
Location: Woodinville Water District, 17238 NE Woodinville-Duvall Road, Building A, Woodinville WA 98072
Sustainable garden design
Presenter: Emily Bishton, Landscape designer and environmental educator
Do you have a wish list of activities you would like to be able to do in your garden such as growing food, dining, attracting wildlife, improving the view, screening utility poles and traffic, or increaseing your outdoor storage space? Consider using low-maintenance sustainable design methods. Emily Bishton will provide step-by-step approaches to analyze existing garden conditions such as sun, soil, water, and human elements, and turn your project into a beautiful low-maintenance landscape that meets your needs!
Thursday, July 16
5:00 – 6:30 pm
To register, call (425) 255-9600 or email info@kcwd90.com
Location: King County Water District 90, 15606 SE 128th St., Renton, WA 98059