Some people are green thumbs and gardening comes natural to them and well, some people are not. (I'm in the latter category but I'm making it my goal to keep house plants alive this year!) But that doesn't mean that you cannot learn how to do some landscaping and gardening in your own yard. Experts say that just by adding some plants and trees to your landscape you can up the value of your home.
But if you are totally in the dark when it comes to gardening, it can be a little intimidating to know how to get started. Of course, you can always hire someone else to do the installation, but as the homeowners, you are responsible for caring for and maintaining the plants in the end. So, a little knowledge on the subject goes a long way.
Whether you want to learn about garden design or how to start your own vegetable garden, here are some great organizations that offer classes and online resources throughout the year to learn how.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden- offers a wide variety of gardening classes from planting trees to garden design to vegetable gardening. Check out their calendar of events and classes here.
Ted Lare Garden Center- lots of classes throughout the year and some fun artsy ones too! Plus, they offer landscape services if, in the end, you decide DIY isn't your thing. Check out their classes.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - while they don't typically offer in-person classes, the ISU Extension and Outreach has free online publications for almost every gardening question imaginable. And you can always contact one of the extension specialists with specific questions. A great resource for beginner gardening.
PepperHarrow Farms - flower power inspiration at its finest. If veggie gardening isn't your thing and you love the idea of growing flowers for fresh bouquets throughout the summer check out their classes.