Fall 2025 Workshops
September—Registration available by August 15
Irrigation
Monday, September 8, 10–11:30am
Demonstration Garden, 25 people
Drip irrigation is arguably the most efficient method of providing water to trees, crops, gardens, and landscapes. The surface drip irrigation system emitter was first developed in Israel, where the dry climate makes water conservation a necessity. This workshop will provide an overview of different options available for drip irrigation systems and how to install them. You will also learn how to troubleshoot and inspect your system, and how to make repairs when needed.
Garden Raised Beds NEW
Thursday, September 11, 9–10:30am
Demonstration Garden, 25 people
Gardeners do less bending and stooping with raised beds, so tasks like weeding, watering, and replanting are much easier on the body. It is also easier to control soil texture, fertility, and tilth, and pests can be repelled by adding gopher wiring beneath the beds and copper barriers around their edges. Discover the wide variety of methods and materials for making raised beds, and the best dimensions, spacing, types of soil, and irrigation to use. Also learn about Hügelkultur, an age-old European method of using woody material and compost to create planting mounds. Toward the end of the workshop, we will tour the Master Gardeners edible garden, which contains examples of several different kinds of raised beds.
Rose Care
Tuesday, September 16, 9:30–11:30am
Dorothy F. Johnson Center, 30 people
Gwen Quail, Consulting Rosarian from the Butte Rose Society, will discuss and demonstrate how to keep your roses healthy and happy throughout the seasons of the year. Topics covered will include soil management, planting, fertilizers, watering, integrated pest management, and pruning. Rose varieties, fragrance, propagation guidelines, and exhibiting roses will be discussed as time allows.
Companion Planting
Saturday, September 20, 9–10:30am
Dorothy F. Johnson Center, 25 people
Companion planting is the practice of arranging plants in proximity to one another so that they attract beneficial insects and pollinators, deter unwanted pests, and offer shelter and food for beneficial insects. Companion plants provide one another with things they need, such as nutrients, shade, and physical support. In this workshop you will learn how to accomplish this in the home vegetable garden, focusing on the potential symbiotic relationships between various vegetable, herb, and flower combinations. We will include time for you to analyze your own garden and consider plant combinations that might work well there.
“Black Gold” Vermiculture
Saturday, September 27, 11am–1pm
Dorothy F. Johnson Center, 25 people
We don’t mean oil! We mean the beautiful, rich, nutritious compost you create from kitchen and garden scraps, along with help from the vermiculture community. Worms consume the biomass you provide them, digest it, and then excrete worm castings, or “Black Gold.” This workshop, taught by a Certified Composter, will show you how to start the process and keep the worms happy so they continue to cast off Black Gold for your plants.
October—Registration available by September 1
Fruit Tree Care
Saturday, October 4, 10–11:30am
Demonstration Garden, 25 people
Tom Hansen will explain what to do throughout the year to keep your fruit trees healthy and ensure the best crops. His talk will cover pruning, irrigation, fertilizers, and cultural practices. Learn about the different fruit tree bearing habits and how those habits guide pruning decisions for regular bearing and good fruit size. This workshop will take place in the Demonstration Garden orchard to demonstrate and discuss the best way to prune various fruit trees. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
Honeybees
Tuesday, October 7, 10–11:30am
Bradley 2 at The Social, 50 people
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to keep a hive of honeybees? Humans have been fascinated by the honeybee for a very, very long time: evidence of beekeeping goes back at least 9,000 years, and humans collected honey from wild bees before that. In this class you’ll have an opportunity to observe honeybees and learn how to set up your own apiary. Along the way, you’ll learn what you can do to help honeybees and pollinators survive and thrive in our current environment. This workshop is designed for those considering beekeeping as a hobby and also those who are interested in learning more about attracting and supporting honeybees and other pollinators.
Creating a Backyard Blooming Meadow and Cottage Garden Look NEW
Saturday, October 11, 1–3pm
Bradley 2 at The Social, 50 people
Are you attracted to the cottage garden look, but it seems like a lot of work? Do you have a corner of your yard that feels neglected, and the idea of turning it into a small-scale flowering meadow sounds appealing? Consider planting a wildcrafted flower garden! Flower wildcrafting is a technique of creating a natural-looking garden that incorporates both human propagation activities along with self-propagation by plants, including annuals, bulbs, natives, and perennials. Learn how to envision, plan, plant, maintain, and enjoy a year-round wildcrafted floral garden and blooming meadow. It's fun and easy, especially when allowing Nature to help create your garden tapestry.
Weed Identification and Management NEW
Monday, October 13, 1–2:15pm
Terry Ashe Recreation Center, 50 people
This workshop explores the nature of weeds, and why it’s important to correctly identify which weeds you are battling. We’ll offer tools to help with this, including a hands-on practicum. Primary strategies for weed control are Integrated Pest Management methods; we’ll have a quick primer on chemical controls, for when they are needed as a last resort.
Hands On Fruit Tree Pruning NEW
Saturday, October 18, 10–11:30am
Demonstration Garden, 10 people
Join Master Gardener Tom Hansen to assist in the fall pruning of our demonstration orchard. This workshop provides a hands-on chance to prune our fruit trees with expert guidance. Learn how to keep fruit trees the ideal size for your backyard garden so that no ladders are needed for pruning or harvesting. Bring a pair of hand pruners if possible.
Gardening with California Native Plants NEW
Tuesday, October 21, 10–11:30am
Pat’s Barn, 30 people
By using native plants, you can transform your garden into a more natural habitat that is not only beautiful, but also supports local ecosystems, conserves water, and reduces maintenance. In this workshop, you will learn some basic principles about gardening with natives and be introduced to some natives that do well in garden settings. Emphasis is on specific gardening practices that increase biodiversity and ecosystem function. Our local California Native Plant Society Garden Ambassador will provide a resource list and planting guide as part of this workshop.
Is It Ripe? NEW
Friday, October 24, 10–11:30am
Dorothy F. Johnson Center, 30 people
From leafy greens to stone fruits, all the produce we consume has optimal harvest and consumption times. This workshop moves from botany to selection criteria based on plant growth stage, to determine optimum maturity and ripeness of produce. Planting date, days to maturity, and degree days all help predict harvest and fruit maturity. Climacteric fruit continues to ripen after it is picked—how does this affect fruit selection? What clues do touch, sight, and smell offer for when to pick what we love to eat? How long, and under what conditions, can you store produce at its most delicious stage?
Gophers, Moles, and Squirrels
Tuesday, October 28, 10–11:30am
Demonstration Garden, 25 people
There is nothing peskier than vertebrate pests in your garden. Join us to gain some knowledge about how to deal with these monsters that plague your yard. We will also have a Master Gardener available to show you exactly how to set gopher traps.
November—Registration available by October 1
Propagation
Saturday, November 8, 10–11:30am
Demonstration Garden, 25 people
Learn the best time to propagate woody perennials and divide plants; how to select and make cuttings; the proper techniques for dividing plants; the best planting mediums to use; and how to plant cuttings and divided plants. Materials and techniques will be discussed and handouts will be provided.
Owls NEW
Monday, November 10, 10–11:30am
Dorothy F. Johnson Center, 30 people
Owls are consummate hunters that prey primarily on small mammals, insects, and other birds, although some specialize in hunting fish. This workshop will focus on the unique adaptations of owls as a group, then focus on the owls that reside in Butte County. We will also look at their value as providers of natural pest control in your yard and our region.
Landscape Design
Part 1: Wednesday, November 12, 10–11:30am
Part 2: Wednesday, November 19, 10–11:30am
Pat’s Barn, 30 people
Many gardeners start a garden project by selecting plants, then puzzle over what to do with them when they get home. Sound familiar? In this workshop you will learn the steps that professionals use to develop beautiful, cohesive, lower-maintenance planting designs. Hint: buying the plants is the last step. Each workshop participant will have the opportunity to measure and apply the principles for their own site, if desired.
Irrigation
Monday, November 17, 1–2:15pm
Terry Ashe Recreation Center, 50 people
Drip irrigation is arguably the most efficient method of providing water to trees, crops, gardens, and landscapes. The surface drip irrigation system emitter was first developed in Israel, where the dry climate makes water conservation a necessity. This workshop will provide an overview of different options available for drip irrigation systems and how to install them. You will also learn how to troubleshoot and inspect your system, and how to make repairs when needed.
December—Registration available by November 1
Gardening For a Lifetime
Saturday, December 13, 11am–12:30pm
Pat’s Barn, 30 people
Gardens and gardeners grow and change over time. And though the garden beckons as strongly as ever, tasks such as pulling weeds, pushing wheelbarrows, digging holes, pruning, hauling, and moving heavy objects become increasingly difficult as we get older. But the idea of giving up our passion is unthinkable for most gardeners. To stay healthy and active in the garden, we offer practical advice that will help transform daunting chores into sustainable activities. We will share ideas about plants, labor saving techniques, and tools. Because cultivating good body balance and maintaining strength are important so we can continue to garden, this workshop includes a demonstration of easy yoga positions for gardeners.
About the Workshops
Registration
- Workshops are free—registration is required for all workshops.
- Participation is limited. Limit is indicated for each workshop.
- Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
- Heavy rain cancels outdoor workshops (unless noted); canceled workshops will be rescheduled.
Workshop Locations
- Pat’s Barn and the Demonstration Garden: Patrick Ranch, 10381 Midway, between Chico and Durham.
- Bradley 2 at The Social 1400 W. 3rd St., Chico
- Terry Ashe Recreation Center, 6626 Skyway, Paradise
- Dorothy F. Johnson Center, 775 E 16th Street, Chico
Questions? Need to cancel? Want to get on a Workshop Waiting List?
Please email us at anrmgbutte@ucanr.edu. Be sure to include your phone number in case we need to contact you.
Give a Gift to the UC Master Gardeners of Butte County
Gifts help support our workshops, the Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch, and Master Gardener community outreach projects in Butte County. Thank you! Your support is greatly appreciated!