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CINCINNATI – Beat winter’s chill by preparing for your spring garden! Back by popular demand is the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s 2011 Landscaping for the Homeowner Series, beginning January 19.  Presented by the Zoo’s Director of Horticulture, Steve Foltz, this 10-class series is one of the most informative and complete landscape series for homeowners in the Tri-state area.  Offering insight on design, preparation and plant selection, the classes can be taken separately or as a complete series building upon one another. If you are considering new additions to your garden, be ready to create a thriving and beautiful garden in the spring.

All classes meet every Wednesday evening from 7-9 p.m. starting January 19 for 10 weeks. Cost for the complete series is $80 for Zoo members and $120 for non-members. Individual classes are $10 for Zoo members and $14 for non-members. For additional information or to register for the 2011 Landscaping for the Homeowner Series, please call 513-559-7767.

January 19 -­ Design Your Landscape­ Part 1– The focus of this class is on the simple steps that every designer takes when evaluating a new landscape or renovating an existing landscape.  Basic design principles will be discussed.

January 26 -­ Design Your Landscape­ Part 2– This is a more in-depth look at where plants go and why they go there.  We will discuss the size and scale of the landscape as well as proper bed preparation.

February 2 -­ Trees in the Landscape– Choosing the right tree for your landscape can be a costly decision. A slide presentation will illustrate the various types of trees that you can use. Shade trees, flowering trees, patio trees, and evergreen trees will be presented.

February 9 – Shrubs in the Landscape– View a slide presentation on the best shrubs for Cincinnati area landscapes.  Whether you have sun or shade, or wet or dry soil, this class will present the possibilities of shrubs for the home landscape. Special emphasis will be on the newest and hardiest varieties for this area.

February 16 – Annuals: Color in the Landscape– Have you ever wondered what the secrets are to having lots of color in your landscape? Find out what the newest and best annuals are that tolerate Cincinnati summers. Container gardening with annuals will also be covered.

February 23 – Landscape Maintenance and Lawn Care– This class will cover proper landscape maintenance techniques from spring to fall–what to do and when to do it. Learn about the tools that make the job easier. In addition, learn the basics to a green lawn.  Pruning, weed control, fertilization, and insect and disease control for the complete landscape will all be covered.

March 2 -­ Perennial Design– This class presents basic design concepts for perennial gardens, including butterfly gardens, shade gardens, water gardens, and more. A slide show will help paint a picture after discussing the concepts.

March 9 -­ Perennial Plants Part 1– This is the first of a two part series covering perennial plants for the landscape. Perennials can be used in many ways and for many purposes.  A slide show will include the top 50 perennials for the landscape.

March 16 -­ Perennial Plants Part 2– The second part of perennial plants will also be a slide show of perennials for the landscape. This group will include ornamental grasses, roses, vines, and other great perennial plants.

March 24 -­ Gardening for Wildlife– This class will focus on creating specialized areas of the landscape for wildlife gardening including butterfly and bird gardens, and utilizing native plants in the landscape.

Specialty Garden Program – February 24 – Garden Makeover– Join Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture, for an informative class that will size up different landscapes and show how to adjust the area for a better look. The class will feature photos of numerous landscapes. Steve will evaluate where the trouble spots are, what plants work and what needs to be changed. Class attendees are welcome to email a photo of a trouble spot in their landscape to be evaluated (take photos now!) but time constraints will limit how many photos can be used.

Visit the Zoo’s website at www.cincinnatizoo.org for information on other opportunities and programs offered for the gardening enthusiast in your family.