DG Seminar: Getting Started In Trees & Shrubs

LOL -- if you thought I was teaching anything on this thread, I'm sorry to disappoint you :) Hopefully, though, some of the wiser in the group can lend their knowledge & expertise.

I'm one of those gardeners who literally studies different aspects of gardening, and I've come to the conclusion that I know entirely too little about trees and shrubs. I know some, mostly from "mixed garden" books and Dirr's handbook. I'm ready, though, to get more academic about it. Not able to take a professional course or anything at this point, but I'd sure like to! I need to know more about which trees are more likely to make it through the next 50 years+ versus those that'll probably putter out within 20. I need to know more about planting diverse groupings and underplanting them in a tree-friendly manner. I need to know more about caring for trees I've already planted -- feeding, pruning, watering, etc. In short, ya'll, I just need to know more! :)

Soooooo, I was wondering if any of the truly "sage" (as I heard them referred to in an earlier post) would be willing to post specific Seminar Topics once a week or so. I'd choose the topic, but I simply would be very limited in my scope here. I love gleening what I can from past posts, but it would be so very nice to have everything all under one roof, so to speak. Suggestions might be something like "DG Seminar 1: Assessing Your Site" or "DG Seminar 3: The $100 Hole", etc. I think always beginning the thread with the same header like "DG Seminar 6: blah blah blah" would be really nice for search purposes. Then finding the threads in succession would be easier. After reading thread #5, for instance, you could search for DG Seminar 6 and be right at the next topic. Sort of like Classic Threads, but specifically for trees & shrubs.

I, for one, would be glued to the edge of my laptop reading what all some of you have to offer on topics like these. Anyway, I just thought I'd see if there was an interest at all in a planned series of beginner tree/shrub seminars, not afraid of the academic side. Any reply would be wonderful :)

Thank you so much,

Jacci (aka Huga)

Oops, forgot to mention that I would also love if each seminar had a recommended reading list. That would great!

I'm game! Go for it.

Me too -- there's a lot of good stuff we all can learn. That's really what this forum already does, though, one question at a time. We all just gotta ask the right questions!

Guy S.

Ummm.... do either of you want to choose the topics? I don't feel very qualified :]

I did, however, think that it would be good if the topics started out with very basic, beginner content like site eval, soil, planting, etc. Sort of what needs to be known first if someone is wanting to learn more about trees & shrubs. Reputable sources for trees would be another good one. Jumping right into "training into topiaries" or something very specialized may not be the place to start.

So, would anyone like to come up with a weekly-ish topic and recommended reading list? LOL -- I could subject everyone to my own list of questions, but somehow it seems more appropriate that someone more experienced decide what needs to be discussed.

I'm excited about this!

Thanks,
Jacci :)