Master Gardener Lisa Lemza will lead a free class on choosing and planting trees, such as this dogwood, on April 15 at the UT Extension Office, 6183 Adamson Circle off Bonny Oaks Drive.Did February's unseasonably warm temperatures make you antsy to start a garden?
Local garden experts are ready to help. Thirteen weekends of gardening workshops start Saturday, and all are aimed at helping backyard gardeners prepare for spring planting. They range from hands-on how-tos to native plant sales, lawn-care classes and spring break fun for kids to get their hands dirty.
Before you dig in, keep in mind that April 14-15 is usually when this area's last frost occurs, according to the National Weather Service. So you might hold off until after Easter weekend to plant.
Keep this guide as a handy reminder about what's coming up.
MARCH 4-6
* Blueberry and Fruit Tree Extravaganza: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, free. Learn about successful planting, pruning and care of fruit trees and bushes. 423-698-2276.
* Joys of Gardening: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, free to members, $25 nonmembers. Sara McIntyre and Cindy Gregg address container gardening, raised beds, garden location, plants vs. transplants, more. 423-493-9155.
* Lawn Care Basics: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Sunday, free. The latest hints and new ideas for lawn care regarding types of grasses, fertilizers, watering and cutting. 423-698-2276.
* Plant Anything Workshop: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 10 a.m. Saturday, bring your own container to fill with plants purchased at nursery. 423-886-3174.
* Plant Family Traditions: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m.. Saturday, free. Learn how to plant a tree, which are available for purchase. 423-698-2276.
* Pruning and Tree Care: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 1 p.m. Saturday, free. B.J. Absher of Anderson Tree Specialists teaches correct technique for pruning, when and how to cut and what not to cut. 423-238-9775.
MARCH 10-12
* Creative and Unique Landscape Design Ideas: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Sunday, free. The Barn's landscape designer guides participants through the basics of good design, what plants work in what areas, drought-tolerant plants and the right light conditions. 423-698-2276.
* Drop-In Gorgeous Containers: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, free. Learn how to combine the right plants with the right light conditions and soil so you can just drop them in your containers. 423-698-2276.
* Fairy Garden Workshop: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 10 a.m. Saturday, $29.99 includes container, soil, moss and three plants. 423-886-3174.
* Herbs, Edibles and Recipes: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, noon Saturday, free. Donna Dent informs visitors about herbs and edibles and shares her favorite recipes. 423-698-2276.
* Plant a Succulent Garden: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Discounted bundle price for purchase of pot, soil and plants; experts will help visitors. No registration needed, drop by anytime during the two hours. 423-238-9775.
MARCH 17-19
* Container Gardening: UT Extension Office, Agricultural Service Center, 6183 Adamson Circle off Bonny Oaks Drive, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, free, sponsored by Hamilton County Master Gardeners. UT Extension Agent Tom Stebbins leads class on container gardening. www.mghc.org.
* Drop-In Gorgeous Pots for Patios/Decks: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, free. Learn how to combine the right plants with the right light conditions and soil so you can just drop them in your patio containers. 423-698-2276.
* Joys of Gardening: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, free for members, $25 nonmembers. Sara McIntyre and Cindy Greg focus on seasonal crops, 30 favorite garden varieties of vegetables, diseases and insects, mulching and watering. 423-493-9155.
* Plant Family Traditions: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, free. Learn how to plant a tree, available for purchase. 423-698-2276.
* Plant Natives Symposium: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga University Center, 642 E. Fifth St., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, $70 per person includes lunch, $20 for students with valid ID, $10 discount if purchased by March 15. Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones hosts sixth annual Native Plant Symposium with four speakers on designing gardens and landscapes using native plants. www.tennesseevalley.wildones.org.
* Pollinators, Perennials, Pretty Shrubs and Petite Ground Covers: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Sunday, free. Craig Walker shows how to pick pollinator plants for a butterfly garden with consideration to sun and shade areas. 423-698-2276.
MARCH 21
* Kids In the Garden: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 10:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, free. Elementary-age children and their caregivers invited to tour nursery, learn how plant root systems work, plant a flower to take home and help plant a vegetable garden. 423-238-9775.
MARCH 22
* Bird-House Building Tweet Party: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. Wednesday, $15. Learn about birds, their habits, what and when to feed them, nesting habits, water sources, then build a birdhouse. 423-698-2276.
MARCH 24-26
* Apple Grafting: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 2-4:30 p.m. Saturday. Matt Whitaker and Tom Burford lead hands-on grafting experience; each participant goes home with a grafting knife, two grafted apple trees and a grafting guide. Call for fee information: 423-493-9155.
* Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Pollinators and Perennials: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, free. Craig Walker gives hands-on tips about flowering shrubs, pollinator gardens, new dwarf shrubs for color and flowering ground covers. 423-698-2276.
* Grasses, Everything You Want to Know: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, free. Grass Class 101 teaches various kinds of seeds, drought-tolerance, how and when to mow and the best grass for your landscape. 423-698-2276.
* Growing Blueberries and Fruit Trees: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 10 a.m. Saturday, free. Jim Yates leads interactive workshop using plants from nursery; everyone receives booklet to take home. 423-238-9775.
* Interior Plant Decor: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 3-4 p.m. Sunday, free. Basics of how to select plants for certain rooms of the house, correct fertilizing and how to care for them. 423-698-2276.
MARCH 30-APRIL 2
* Kokodama Workshop: Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road, 10 a.m. Saturday, $34.99 includes finished kokodama ball. Learn about this bonsai grown in a moss ball that is bound in string to become a sculptural art form. 423-886-3174.
* Nature Walk: Lula Lake Land Trust, Lookout Mountain, 2-5 p.m. Sunday, $4 Tennessee Aquarium members. $8 nonmembers. Aquarium horticulturist Christine Hunt leads trail walk to spot flowering shrubs and early wildflowers; wear hiking boots. www.tnaqua.org/events-programs.
* Shade Garden Ideas: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m. Saturday, free. Craig Walker give ideas on how to add pops of color in the shade, vertical gardening inserts to extend color upward, as well as garden design with fountains, benches and gazing globes. 423-698-2276.
* Straw Bale Gardening: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 3:30 p.m. Thursday or 9 a.m. Saturday, free. Greta Basham shows how simple it is to grow almost anything in a straw bale; participants get how-to booklet to take home. 423-238-9775.
APRIL 7-9
* Master Your Garden Expo: Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 13 and older. Hamilton County Master Gardeners sponsor gardening show with workshops, demonstrations, children's activities, garden items for sale. www.mghc.org.
* Pollinator Plants: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. Saturday, free. Learn about the Million Dollar Challenge, Certified Butterfly Gardens, how to pick pollinator plants and containers. 423-698-2276.
* Spring Plant Sale and Festival: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 9 a.m..-3 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, free. More than 100 varieties of plant starts sold. 423-493-9155.
* Spring Wildflower Walk: Private farm in Rising Fawn, Ga., 2-5 p.m. Sunday, $4 Tennessee Aquarium members, $8 nonmembers. Aquarium horticulturist Christine Hunt leads family oriented walk. www.tnaqua.org/events-programs.
APRIL 14-16
* Hippity Hoppity Happening Weekend: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, free. Children can plant a bunny flower container, garden bunnies on display. 423-698-2276.
* Trees and Shrubs Class: UT Extension Office, Agricultural Service Center, 6183 Adamson Circle off Bonny Oaks Drive, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, free, sponsored by Hamilton County Master Gardeners. Master Gardener Lisa Lemza leads class on choosing and planting trees and shrubs. www.mghc.org.
APRIL 21-23
* Earth Day Festival: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 11 a.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, free. Emphasis on environmental education workshops, how to plant a tree, pruning and fertilizing. 423-698-2276.
* Plant an Herb Container: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, discounted price bundle for purchase of pot, soil and plants from nursery. Drop by anytime during the two hours. 423-238-9775.
* Spring Plant Sale: Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, purchase of plant allows free admission into arboretum and nature center grounds. Sale of nursery-propagated plants, many from seeds gathered from native plants on the slopes of Lookout Mountain. 423-821-1160.
APRIL 28-30
* May Day Baskets for Kids: The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th Street Place, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, free. Children can fill a small basket with flowers, pick a pack of pollinator plants that are event-priced, learn how to make a pollinator garden. 423-698-2276.
MAY 4-7
* Growing Great Tomatoes: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, free. Kat McGraw teaches types of tomatoes and how to grow them. 423-238-9775.
* Using Tropical Plants In Your Landscape: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 10 a.m. Saturday, free. Learn creative ways to use tropical plants with examples from nursery collection. 423-238-9775.
MAY 12-14
* Plant Mom a Flower Container: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, discounted price bundle for pot, soil and plants purchased at nursery. Experts on hand to answer questions, sample gardens displayed; children must be accompanied by a caregiver. 423-238-9775.
MAY 19-21
* Hydrangeas- Southern Beauties: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 10 a.m. Saturday, free. Darlene Williams discusses three types of hydrangeas, their care and maintenance requirements, as well as new varieties on market; participants receive color booklet to take home. 423-238-9775.
JUNE 2-4
* Hostas and Shade Perennials: Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, 9 a.m.. Saturday, free. Jim Yates shows examples of plant varieties, and companion plants that work well beside them; participants receive color booklet to take home. 423-238-9775.