Gardening Classes

Skip to page navigation

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. Please use the contact information provided for each class to register. Early registration is recommended as many classes fill up fast.

The Water-Friendly Gardener: Drought-Proof Your Garden by Starting With the Soil

Presenter: Ea Murphy, soil scientist and author

Water plays a critical role in how our gardens grow, particularly in the dry summers. Water is also critical for living soil organisms to stay active and abundant, the true foundation of healthy gardens and a living planet. The steps we take to grow healthy living soils are the same steps we take to mitigate and even help our gardens thrive during dry conditions. By starting with growing healthy soil, any gardener can drought-proof the garden to grow more with less water. Learn how to plant a water friendly garden, catch and keep the water that’s available, and maximize the benefits of organic matter to grow healthy living soil and plants all year round.

Wednesday, April 10th
6:30 – 8 pm
To Register: Email customerservice@northcitywater.org or call (206) 362-8100
Location: North City Water District
1519 NE 177th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155
 

Automatic Sprinkler Systems: How to Water Your Yard and Garden Efficiently

Presenter: Mark Guthrie, Landscape Water Conservation Program Manager at the Saving Water Partnership, ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Landscaper

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.

Wednesday, April 24th
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: email kirstena@kcwd90.com or call (425) 255-9600
Location: King County Water District 90
15606 SE 128th St.
Renton, WA 98059

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 PNW presents many water related challenges – from too much stormwater to 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.

Wednesday, May 8th
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: visit the City of Renton classes page and search by name or ID 19966
Questions? Email jchan@rentonwa.gov or call (425) 430-7379
Location: Renton Community Center, Room B (25 seats)
1715 Maple Valley Hwy
Renton, WA 98057

Proven Tips & 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.

Tuesday, May 14th
6:30 – 8 pm
To Register: Email customerservice@northcitywater.org or call (206) 362-8100
Location: North City Water District
1519 NE 177th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155

Attracting Bees and Butterflies To Your Garden

Presenter: Ladd Smith, co-owner of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes

Come learn the small footsteps you can take to bring more wildlife to your yard.  Butterflies, bees and birds bring movement, color and pollination qualities to our gardens. Along with learning how easy it is to make a big difference in your garden, you will be given plant lists that attract these special creatures.   Also, attracting specific bird types and their needs will be discussed.

Wednesday, May 15th
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: visit the City of Renton classes page and search by name or ID 20035
Questions? Email jchan@rentonwa.gov or call (425) 430-7379
To participate: join via Zoom

Favorite Northwest Natives

Presenter: Greg Rabourn, educator and radio personality

Native plants adapted to our soil and climate solve many landscape woes—less watering, less need for pesticides and fertilizers, and less chance of introduction and spread of invasive species. They also attract valuable native wildlife. You’ll come away with design tips and species recommendations to make your own Northwest Native haven. Discover just how beautiful, sustainable, and low-maintenance gardening can be with native plants!

Thursday, May 16th
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: email kirstena@kcwd90.com or call (425) 255-9600
Location: by Zoom and by watch party at King County Water District 90
15606 SE 128th St.
Renton, WA 98059

Weed Wars: Winning the Battle Without Chemical Warfare

Presenter: Marianne Binetti, author, NW horticultural expert, syndicated columnist, TV and radio host

During this entertaining class you will learn that there are many ways to control unwanted plants in your garden without resorting to herbicide sprays as a first choice. Mulches, ground covers, hand tools, native plants are just some of the ideas that will be covered with a lighthearted and fun way of looking at volunteer plants. Included will be warnings of some plants not to plant that can become invasive, some weeds to just learn to love and some weeds that are so noxious they must be eradicated immediately. The goal is to arm the gardener with different ideas, tools and attitudes about those unwanted weeds in your outdoor space.

Thursday, May 23rd      
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: visit the City of Renton classes page and search by name or ID 20022
Questions? Email jchan@rentonwa.gov or call (425) 430-7379
Location: join via Zoom

Designing for the NW Garden

Presenter: Greg Rabourn, educator and radio personality

Plan it before you plant it. Whether you are starting with a bare yard or trying to give your existing landscape a northwest vibe, this class has some tips for you. The class focuses on sustainable landscapes that are people and wildlife friendly.

Wednesday, June 5th   
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: visit the City of Renton classes page and search by name or ID 20039
Questions? Email jchan@rentonwa.gov or call (425) 430-7379
Location: Renton Community Center, Room B (25 seats)
1715 Maple Valley Hwy
Renton, WA 98057

Drip Irrigation for Home Gardeners

Presenter: Marni Sorin, educator for Tilth Alliance, dedicated experts in sustainable and organic food gardening.

Learn how easy it is to water your garden with water-efficient drip irrigation!  Even though our Pacific Northwest maritime climate is known for its rain, our summers are not. We still need to water our crops, thirsty ornamentals and container gardens.  Be smart with your resources and learn how to maximize the water you use in your landscape.

Thursday, June 6th
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: email kirstena@kcwd90.com or call (425) 255-9600
Location: by Zoom and by watch party at King County Water District 90
15606 SE 128th St.
Renton, WA 98059
 

Container Gardening Do’s and Don’ts

Presenter: Marianne Binetti, author, NW horticultural expert, syndicated columnist, TV and radio host

Don’t have a ton of space to garden? Want to liven up your porch or deck?  Popular gardening educator Marianne Binetti will share her tricks for growing glorious gardens in compact containers.  Learn the most sustainable ways to fertilize, water, and design with containers.

Wednesday, June 12th
6:30 – 8 pm
To Register: Email customerservice@northcitywater.org or call (206) 362-8100
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 suing garden art and structures with ideas from show gardens from around the world.

Wednesday, July 10th 
6 – 7:30 pm
To Register: email kirstena@kcwd90.com or call (425) 255-9600
To Participate: join a zoom link that will be sent after you register
Location: King County Water District 90

Fall and Winter Chores to Make Your Spring Gardening Easier

Presenter: Ladd Smith, co-owner of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes

The fall is the best time to prepare for the spring! Ladd will teach fall natural yard care techniques that will ease your spring labor. Learn what to do if you have poor soil, how to improve your soil with mulch, the benefits of trees and native plants, and the best practices for planting in the fall.

Thursday, August 15th
6 – 7:30 pm
To register: email kirstena@kcwd90.com or call (425) 255-9600
Location: King County Water District 90
15606 SE 128th St.
Renton, WA 98059

Designing for the NW Garden

Presenter: Greg Rabourn, educator and radio personality

Plan it before you plant it. Whether you are starting with a bare yard or trying to give your existing landscape a northwest vibe, this class has some tips for you. The class focuses on sustainable landscapes that are people and wildlife friendly.

Wednesday, September 18th
6:30 – 8 pm
To Register: Email customerservice@northcitywater.org or call (206) 362-8100
Location: North City Water District
1519 NE 177th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155