Workshops help prepare gardens for spring

Are you considering changing your landscape but don’t know where to begin? Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) is hosting a series of free workshops designed to help homeowners prepare their gardens for spring.

Classes include landscape design, native and California friendly plants, irrigation and watering, and composting. All classes are held at EVMWD headquarters at 31315 Chaney St., Lake Elsinore. Space is limited. To reserve a seat, visit evmwd.com/workshops or call 951-674-3146, ext. 8247.

Join the UCCE Riverside County Master Gardeners for this year’s first free spring landscape workshop hosted by EVMWD on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Preparing Your Garden for Spring Workshop will include a presentation by Master Gardeners on the steps to getting your garden ready for spring. Attendees will have an opportunity to have their questions answered by the experts.

EVMWD’s Backyard Composting and Green Cleaning Workshop presented by the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources will be held on Apr. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will learn how to make compost using various materials from home and how to make green cleaning products that are safe for the home.

EVMWD’s final spring workshop, Irrigation 101 presented by the Inland Empire Waterkeepers, will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This workshop will cover the basics of how to operate an irrigation system for an Inland Empire friendly landscape. Learn how to operate a controller, how long to run each zone, simple maintenance tips and plant water needs.

EVMWD customers unable to attend the workshops but who would like some landscape inspiration can visit one of EVMWD’s low water use gardens located at EVMWD  headquarters, Storm Stadium in Lake Elsinore and Cirrus Circle in Corona. The gardens are always open to the public.

Customers may also visit evmwd.com for the Temescal Garden Drip Irrigation Design Book, Inland Empire Landscape Guidebook and six free landscape design plans.

EVMWD provides service to over 144,000 water and wastewater customers in a 96-square mile service area in Western Riverside County. The District is a sub-agency of the Western Municipal Water District and a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. For additional information, visit evmwd.com.