The City of Dallas will host a free lawn care seminar from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday, January 30 at the Richland College Performance Hall (12800 Abram Road, Dallas, TX 75243). Come and discover the most effective and earth-friendly way to care for your lawn.

Many people maintain their lawns based on trial and error. Those errors show up on our lawns, our water bills and in our creeks, rivers and lakes. Dr. James McAfee, Turfgrass Specialist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Dallas, will teach participants how to care for their lawn like an expert. Subjects covered will include the proper height to mow, how and when to fertilize, how to water most efficiently and much more. These techniques will give participants a chance to create a healthy lawn, save money and help prevent water pollution. Two 60-gallon rain barrels will be given away at end of the turf session.

Following the turf session, participants may attend one or more of the following MicroTalks (30-minute presentations):
Do-It-Yourself Sprinkler Repairs
This talk will cover different do-it-yourself sprinkler system repairs and adjustments. Included in the presentation are proper programming and features of the timer, components of the system, head selection, proper nozzles and adjustments, how to make minor repairs (e.g., raise or lower heads, pipe breaks, etc.), repair parts and water-tight wiring repairs.
Sustainable Landscaping
Did you know that improper use of lawn chemicals and improper clean up of yard waste from your lawn can cause water pollution in our local community? Learn tips on how to sustainably use lawn chemicals and manage your yard waste so you have a nice, lush lawn, while keeping pollution out of our local creeks, lakes and the Trinity River.
Earth-Kind™ Roses
Earth Kind Roses™ are among the most thoroughly tested and environmentally responsible plants for use in North Texas landscapes. These roses do very well in almost any soil type, even in the highly alkaline clays of the Dallas Metroplex. Learn about the different varieties of Earth-Kind roses and the how, when and where to plant them in your garden.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is an innovative approach for capturing free water. You can save money by collecting and storing rainwater and using it to irrigate your trees, shrubs and flowerbeds. An easy way to do this is by constructing a rain barrel. Learn how you can install a rainwater harvesting system in your yard.
WaterWise Herb Gardening
Learn how to combine drought-tolerant varieties with water-saving techniques for a garden that takes dry weather in stride. By combining herbs that thrive under dry conditions with several time-tested strategies for reducing moisture loss, you can easily grow an herb garden that requires little or no supplemental water.
Trees - How to Conserve Water and Money
This session will teach you how to choose and properly plant deciduous trees that shade your home in the summer and reduce air conditioning needs and that shed their leaves in the fall to warm your home in the winter months. Also, learn about the types of trees that require less watering and that do well in the soil conditions of North Texas.

As space is limited, please register online or call 214-670-3155 and indicate which two MicroTalks you would be interested in attending. Door prize drawings will also be held at the end of each MicroTalk session.

Seminar sponsored by City of Dallas Water Conservation, City of Dallas Stormwater Management, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Dallas County Master Gardeners and Richland College.