Join Boise Parks and Recreation staff for our annual series of tree care, gardening and wildflower classes, plus a tour of the Laura Moore Cunningham Arboretum.
Classes will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Downtown Library in the Marion Bingham Room on the 3rd floor (except for the nursery tour).
View Entire List of Classes (PDF)
Registration is required. Limited spots available. Call Fort Boise Community Center at (208) 608-7680 or register online via link below.
CLASSES COST $5
TREE BIOLOGY- January 22
Get the dirt on soil and plant interactions. Learn the basics of caring for the soil as well as basic plant structures. You’ll walk away with a growing understanding on how to manage soil and proper tree care for healthier, longer living trees.
FRUIT TREE PRUNING - January 29
Knowing how and when to prune for fruit is much different than pruning an ornamental tree. If you have a fruit tree, this is the class for you!
Instructor: Casey Branning*
TREE PRUNING - February 5
This class addresses more than just cutting off branches. Incorrect pruning can cause serious problems for your trees. Learn the correct way to make a pruning cut, the tree’s response to the cuts and how to prune for the long-term health and beauty of your trees.
Instructor: Jake Kite
TREE SELECTION & PLANTING - February 13
Planting incorrectly is one of the most common reasons for tree failure. Once you’ve chosen the perfect tree for your area, learn the correct way to plant (or what to look for when someone else plants) to ensure the tree’s long-term success.
Instructor: Ryan Rodgers*
TREE PROBLEMS - February 19
Learn about insects and diseases that affect our trees and the most common problems people create by incorrect practices. Learn to identify problems and get suggestions on how to correct them.
Instructor: Otto Gabrielli*
ORGANIC GARDENING - February 26
Get ready for the upcoming growing season with Boise Urban Garden School’s (BUGS) Organic Gardening Class. You’ll learn the basics of organic gardening. Topics will include garden planning, plant selection and care, water, and weed and pest management.
Instructor: Laura Kohtz
ROSES - March 5
Caring for roses is a year ‘round job. Class will cover pruning techniques and how to treat some of the most common pests in roses, including Bacterial Cane Blight.
Instructor: Andrea Wurtz
XERISCAPING AND NATIVE PLANTS TALK - March 13
Learn how to reduce water consumption while keeping your yard beautiful by using the best plants, irrigation components and other landscape elements. This is a great class if you are interested in practical and applicable solutions for your yard!
Instructor: Dan Shultz
Treasures of the Boise Front: WILDFLOWERS & MORE: March 17
Did you know that the Boise Front is special for its diversity of rare, unusual and even recently discovered wildflowers? We will go on a photographic journey to explore the floristic treasures of the Boise Front, from Bonneville Point to Mores Mountain to Spring Valley, growing in a diversity of unique habitats.
Instructor: Barbara Ertter
Laura Moore Cunningham City Arboretum Tour - May 14
Come tour the nursery and see where the city grows its trees. We will look at basic nursery production, discuss species identification and learn about characteristics of small trees. We’ll walk to Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park and look at mature specimens. We will walk on uneven surfaces which may be dusty or muddy depending on the spring weather. Please wear appropriate footwear.
Instructor: Ryan Rodgers*
*City of Boise Arborist