Get ready to transform your garden this spring! Questions about your landscaping and garden will be showcased this winter as the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program of Butler County hosts “Winter Wonderings.”

This webinar series will be held Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 22. The cost is $10 per session, and interested participants can register online at extension.psu.edu or by phone at 1-877-345- 0691. Proceeds will benefit the educational outreach of the Master Gardeners Butler County program.

The webinar series will kick off with “Working with Hedges, Screens and Slopes.”

As gardeners, we are intrigued by the unusual and eye-catching plants that we must have in our garden. Other areas need plants with a function, such as hedges and screens for blocking a view, privacy, wind control or as an element in a formal garden. Slopes can be problematic for mowing, erosion, and bank stabilization or difficult to maintain. Many choices are not only attractive but can resolve these design issues.

Join Bill Hendricks, president of Klyn Nurseries, to explore the possibilities for dealing with these difficult-to-manage situations. He will explore ways to rethink these difficult-to-manage areas, introduce a variety of plants that can be utilized, and provide tips for maintenance as one seeks to improve their landscape.

On Jan. 29, “Fantastic Foliage and Garden Ornaments” will be taught by Paul Zammit, professor of horticulture and environmental sciences at Niagara College Canada.

While flowers provide a source of color, seasonal interest and a vital source of nourishment for pollinators that visit the garden, plants offer so much more than pretty flowers.

Drawing on his years of experience in the industry, Zammit will emphasize how great gardens, large or small, could have year-round interest and appeal without relying strictly on flowers. Join him for an energetic presentation that explores the importance of garden ornaments, hardscaping elements and the power of living sculpture in the landscape from using architectural plants with fantastic foliage, form and beautiful bark, too.

Author Heather Andrews will present “Fueling Stations for Spring Pollinators” on Feb. 5. Embrace the beauty and bounty of nature's wonders by transforming your garden into a haven for early emerging pollinators, setting the stage for a flourishing spring harvest. As the first to awaken from winter's slumber, these early visitors of the pollinator world play a crucial role in kick-starting the garden's ecosystem and spring harvest.

Unlock the secret to attracting a multitude of butterflies by incorporating keystone native plants, the most beneficial species for your region. These plants provide the specific food and habitat requirements for a diverse range of species. Additionally, Andrews will teach how to design your garden with butterfly behavior in mind and the benefits of delaying spring garden cleanup. With “Fueling Stations for Spring Pollinators,” you'll discover the secrets to creating a garden that not only attracts and supports early emerging pollinators but also sets the stage for a bountiful spring harvest.

The Feb. 19 session explores “Color and Texture in the Spring Garden.” New spring growth and spring flowers add color and excitement to the garden after a long cold winter. Even though there is a lot of green, there are multiple shades and textures which gives dimension to the overall landscape.

In this session, Glen Pace will explore examples of plants to use to give extra color and texture to the garden landscape. Pace is a registered nurse by trade and a botany enthusiast as a means of relaxation. He has taught on many subjects related to woodland gardening and plants about which he is passionate. He is known for pushing the hardiness envelope with his unique collections of plants and enjoys working in his private woodland garden, Pace Gardens, in Clio, Mich.

The final webinar on Feb. 26 will feature 40-year professional gardener Janet Macunovich, who will discuss “Pruning Trees and Shrubs: Off-season Plants and Practices.” She will show how gardeners can get ahead of the season, take advantage of what might otherwise be “down time” and improve the landscape by pruning during winter dormancy.

This session will explore what and how to prune and when, thus ensuring beautiful bloom. Learn how to retain a good shape, manageable size, and health in trees and shrubs in her easy to implement process for a comprehensive list of popular landscape plants. Gardeners can implement these simple, proven techniques during winter thaws and weeks before conventional spring cleanup time.

For more information, contact the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email butlermg@psu.edu.

Diane Dallos is the Master Gardener coordinator with Penn State Extension, Butler County.

Diane Dallos