UC Cooperative Extension to offer horticulture class

Hot on the heels of its fruit pruning demonstrations, the University of California Cooperative Extension is again offering a valuable resource to the community.

Starting Tuesday, the extension will offer a weekly horticulture class to educate home gardeners and landscapers in a fun and interesting way.

Topics during the 15-week class will include climate, soils and water, irrigation design, landscape plant selection, tree and shrub pruning, fruit tree selection and care, vegetable growing, and managing vertebrate pests (e.g., roof rats and ground squirrels).

Presenting valuable information to the community is part of the mission of the extension, which helps bring UC agricultural research to residents who can use it. It is a part of the Land-Grant College System, which has provided residents of California and Kern County with programs to improve their quality of living since 1914.

The class will meet Tuesdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. through May 22 at the extension office at 1031 S. Mount Vernon Ave. There is no cutoff for signups but it is recommended to join within the first three weeks to not miss coverage of the basics.

The cost is $75, which is payable via cash or check only.

Those who are interested in attending should email to Brian Marsh, the extension’s director, at bhmash@ ucanr.edu, or call the office at 661-868-6200.

Fruit trees, such as these peaches, need pruning appropriate for the respective species for structure and yield. Tree pruning techniques will be covered in the upcoming horticulture class.

COURTESY OF UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Roses, such as this yellow Flutterbye, make colorful additions to a landscape. Home landscaping will be one of the topics covered in the UC Cooperative Extension’s upcoming horticulture class that begins Tuesday.