West Virginia University Extension specialists will conduct a one-day Lawn and Landscape Recertification Workshop on Oct. 26 that teaches participants tips and safety techniques to maintain their lawns and gardens.
Topics include pest control, proper fertilizer and pesticide storage and balancing soil nutrition.
The workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the South Agricultural Sciences Building on the Evansdale Campus. The cost for the workshop is $20 at the door or $15 by mail-in advance. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
During the lawn and garden pest portion of the workshop, participants will learn about common, unwelcome insects, weeds and plant diseases.
“Pests appear in many forms and each type requires a different approach to rid them from your outdoor space,” said Daniel Frank, WVU Extension entomology specialist.
Unwanted appearances by pests can wreak havoc in your vegetable or flower garden, and create serious problems for your healthy, green lawn.
But, Frank says not all insects are bad. For example, the lady beetle, or “lady bug,” often seen in West Virginia, eats aphids, mites and other insects; their hungry larvae do even more damage to common garden pests.
“Insects that might appear to be pests, can often be beneficial inhabitants – it’s helpful to know which insects are valuable and which are not,” Frank remarks.
Learn more about plant diseases and outdoor pests by visiting anr.ext.wvu.edu/pests.
Proper, safe storage of pesticides and fertilizer are topics that will also be covered during the workshop.
“Knowing how to use and where to store materials like pesticides and fertilizer is important for your safety and the safety of the environment,” Frank said.
He explains that improper use, such as overuse of fertilizer, not only wastes it but is also detrimental to water quality after it leaches into streams and waterways.
WVU Extension specialists will provide expert knowledge over the course of the day, touching base on these topics as well as many other important lawn and garden care tips and techniques.
Ten continuing certification units or five hours have been approved for categories 4A: Ornamental and Turf Outdoors; 4B: Indoor Ornamental; 11: Demonstration and Research; 12: Pesticide Storage and Distribution for those attending the workshop. The recertification workshop is also approved for private applicators (PA).
To learn more about the Lawn and Landscape Recertification Workshop contact Daniel Frank at 304-293-8835 or dlfrank@mail.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
bg/10/21/13
CONTACT: Cassie Waugh, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Waugh@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.