Gardening in the South

Ted Bilderback, Barbara Fair, and William Fonteno, NC State University

Sponsored by Leaf & Limb


  • Saturday, February 2, 2019 – 8:00 am12:00 pm

New gardeners and those that recently moved the Triangle are invited to participate in a new symposium at the JC Raulston Arboretum that's designed just for them. William Fonteno, Barbara Fair, and Ted Bilderback will discuss improving garden soils, planting, and pruning, respectively.

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Mt. Fuji'

This symposium is designed for new gardeners and gardeners new to the Triangle. We plan on recording this program and offering it on YouTube for everyone. We will also offer it as a live feed the day of the event via our Facebook page.

Note: Registration is only needed for those that want to attend the live event. Please do not register if you plan on watching the live Facebook stream or via our YouTube Channel.

Schedule

Saturday, February 2

8:00 am
Registration, reception, and plant and apparel sales
8:30 am
Welcome with Mark Weathington
8:45 am
"Good Garden Soil: Build It and They Will Come"
William Fonteno, Ph.D.
9:45 am
Break and plant and apparel sales
10:00 am
"Planting Woody Plants to Ensure They Live a Long and Healthy Life"
Barb Fair, Ph.D.
11:00 am
Break and plant and apparel sales
11:15 am
"Pruning for Transplants and Others"
Ted Bilderback, Ph.D.
12:15 pm
Conclusion

Presentations

garden soil

"Good Garden Soil: Build It and They Will Come"
William Fonteno, Ph.D.

Most people in the Triangle have poor soils to garden in, but don't really know it. And a regular soil test will not show you problems or how to fix it! We will discuss the causes and cures of poor soil in urban environments. The good news is we can make tremendous soil for our gardens with great drainage and water retention, good chemistry, and lots of "rhizo-biology" for healthy and productive gardening.

tree planting

"Planting Woody Plants to Ensure They Live a Long and Healthy Life"
Barb Fair, Ph.D.

In this presentation you will learn how to manage both ball and burlap and container-grown plants. You will also learn a new staking method that can save money and time.

pruning a camellia

"Pruning for Transplants and Others"
Ted Bilderback, Ph.D.

Let's start with a history of pruning beginning with Theophratus (371–287 BC) because not a lot changed in recommended pruning practices until the early 1980s when Al Shigo, a Forest Service plant pathologist changed everything.  A big impact on pruning requirements and practices for long-term plant care is putting the "right plant in the right place"—or not! The presentation will include discussion of why we need to prune and the rewards and consequences of shearing landscape plants compared to selective pruning practices.

Speakers

Bill Fonteno

William Fonteno, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University

Bill Fonteno has been a professor of horticulture at NC State for 42 years. He teaches courses in plant growth and development and greenhouse production. His expertise is horticultural substrates and urban soils. He has been the technical advisor for the national Mulch and Soil Council for 15 years, and developed the quality program for all consumer potting soils, soil additives, and mulches sold in the United States.

Barb Fair

Barbara Fair, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University

Barbara Fair is an associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Science and the landscape specialist for North Carolina. She provides expertise to Extension faculty and the green industry, focusing extensively on issues of landscape sustainability and arboriculture. In addition, Barbara teaches Landscape Ecosystem Management, Gardening with Herbaceous Perennials, and Green Infrastructure: The Functional Use of Plants in Urban Landscapes at NC State. She is a certified arborist with an extensive arboriculture and urban forestry background.

Barbara earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s from Penn State University and obtained her Ph.D. from Ohio State University.

Ted Bilderback

Ted Bilderback, Ph.D., Retired, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University

Ted Bilderback retired as an emeritus professor and director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University on July 1, 2014, after 37 years as a Department of Horticulture Science faculty member. His career included responsibilities for teaching, extension, and research. Ted's research and Extension programs focused on environmentally conscious cultural practices for growing nursery stock and included advising or co-advising 24 graduate students during his career.

Cost
Free.
Registration
Advance registration is required. Please register online using our registration e-store. Registration is limited and is considered complete when payment is received.
Location
Ruby C. McSwain Education Center, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Directions
Need directions? Click here.
Parking
Free parking is available at the JC Raulston Arboretum and along Beryl Road.
Questions
Please call (919) 513-7005 for more information about this symposium.