By Sue Davis
Cooperative ExtensionMaster Gardener Volunteer SALISBURY — The primary purpose of the Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Pocket Garden project is to educate the general public with demonstration gardens for urban gardeners.
At the Agriculture Center, 2727 Old Concord Road, the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are working on a variety of demonstration raised beds. Raised beds can be placed throughout the landscape to contain a cutting garden, a wide range of vegetables, small berry plants like blueberries or a butterfly garden.
On Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Agriculture Center, you can learn to what it takes to build a rectangular raised bed from wood to concrete blocks. Versa-Lok landscaping blocks will be featured as a method of incorporation beauty and functionality of raised beds in the landscape.
The Extension Master Gardener Volunteers have prepared the beds, lined them with stone and leveled the area where the blocks will be constructed. Johnson Concrete, which provided the Versa-Lok blocks, will demonstrate how to build the bed, glue and stack the blocks. There will be discussions on how to determine the heights best for your landscape and the choices in shapes you have.
The bed will also be filled with PermaGrow organic potting medium. This is a new Johnson Concrete product which is ideal for planting in containers. The planting media is a blend of natural compost, pine bark fines and PermaTill.
The Master Gardener Volunteer Pocket Garden project demonstrates the process of a planting wall. Versa Green is a landscape block which has a channel to hide irrigation lines and a hollow center for planting medium and plants. Planting walls can be the centerpiece of your landscape. The versatility of this unique project is something worth learning more about.
The demonstrations Saturday morning will last about an hour. County Extension Director and horticulturalist Darrell Blackwelder, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and representatives from Johnson Concrete will be on hand to answer questions, discuss materials and provide information about raised bed projects. Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will also be available to show the Sensory Garden, the plans for the Sloop Garden and other future projects.
Plants will be given to participants and refreshments will be available. The event is free and open to the general public. Contact Cooperative Extension at 704-216-8970 for more information.
Sue Davis is a Master Gardener Volunteer with Cooperative Extension in Rowan County.
Call 704-216-8970
www.rowanmastergardener.com
rowan.ces.ncsu.edu
www.rowanextension.com