Mercer County Horticulturist Barbara J. Bromley will conduct a four-part lawn care course. (Photo courtesy of the Mercer County Master Gardeners.)

As spring approaches, many people will have questions about what should be done to have a nice lawn in 2011 and still maintain a healthy environment and a reasonably intact wallet. A four-part course, The Basics of Successful Lawn Care, will be offered at the Mercer County Extension office for professionals in the lawn care industry and for homeowners who care for their own lawns or hire maintenance companies.

The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings, Feb 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Pesticide re-certification credits are being offered. The charge will be $12 per class or $40 for all four to cover the cost of printed handouts.

Lecturer Barbara J. Bromley, Mercer County Horticulturist, has divided the course into four parts. Each session stands alone, but there will be many references to material learned in earlier classes. Part 1 is Management Strategies and Selection of Grasses. This will cover determining lawn maintenance levels, characteristics of cool and warm season grasses grown in New Jersey, and understanding the basic grass requirements of light, water, and soil. Part 2 is Basic Maintenance Strategies. This includes mowing, edging, soil testing, fertilizing, liming, and watering. Part 3 is Pest Control and troubleshooting. This class will cover the identification and control of insects, diseases, and weeds. Part 4 is Lawn Renovation and Establishment. Included in this class is how to renovate a damaged lawn or establish a new lawn on bare soil by seeding or sodding. Also included will be environmental factors that damage turf.

NJDEP Pesticide Recertification Credits available for certified pest control operators are 2 credits each for category 3B and PP2 for classes 1, 2 and 4. There will be 3 credits for category 3B and PP2 for Class 3. Total credits for all 4 classes: 09.

For a full outline of the course, to have questions answered, or to pre-register (strongly advised) call Rutgers Cooperative Extension at (609) 989-6830 or visit the office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 930 Spruce Street in Lawrence, adjacent to the Trenton Farmer’s Market. All classes will be held at the Extension office. There is ample parking.

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.