No matter the season, Shades of Green can help you complete your gardening project, maintain your lawn and landscaping, and answer any and all questions that may come up. From free clinics and classes to craft-making happy hours, we want to provide the knowledge you need to succeed so that you can truly enjoy your outdoor space. Learn about organic gardening, native plants, lawn care, and much more. You'll find all of our upcoming classes and events listed here and on our Facebook page.
February
Spring Lawn Care & Flowerbed Prep
It's time to start preparing your lawn and flowerbeds for spring! But where do you start? When should you do what and how? What does it take to transform dormant turf and winter shrubs into a bright and beautiful spring landscape? We'll answer all these questions and more at this FREE gardening clinic!
What We’ll Cover:
- The ins and outs of weed and pest management
- Organic vs. chemical fertilizer treatments
- How to apply pre-emergent and when (and why, and what is pre-emergent anyway?)
- Watering dos and don’ts
- What to do about hard clay
- What soil amendments are needed and how to apply them
- Proper mowing technique (Yes, there is a right way to do it.)
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
The Art of Pruning
All trees – from Live Oaks to Crape Myrtles – need regular pruning. Fruit trees especially need to be pruned each year to better support the weight of the next season's crop. Shrubs and perennials benefit from pruning by having a better shape and more flowers. But proper pruning is as much an art as it is a science, and knowing where to make cuts can seem daunting to those that have never done it.
Shades of Green will help solve the mysteries of pruning at this FREE gardening clinic. Join us and allow our experts to educate you on how to properly prune trees, shrubs, and perennials.
What We'll Cover:
- When to prune
- Where to prune
- What tools to use
- How to prune
- How much to prune
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
March
How to Grow Fruit Trees in North Texas
Saturday, March 4
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Did you know that fall and winter are great times to plant fruit trees in North Texas? Do you know what fruit trees grow best in Collin County, or how to care for them? Do you know what pests are problems for the different types of fruit? Have you dreamed of growing apples, pears, peaches, or figs in your own backyard but haven't because you don't know the answers to these questions?
If so, join Shades of Green for this FREE gardening clinic. Our professional staff will teach you how to succeed at growing fruit in your own yard.
What We'll Cover:
- What are the best fruit trees for North Texas
- When to plant fruit trees
- How to plant fruit trees
- How to prune fruit trees
- How to control disease and pests
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Landscaping with Perennials
Saturday, March 11
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Possibly the best things about perennials is that they come back year, after year, after year. There's no need to replant! Native perennials have evolved to survive in our Texas climate, but there are some excellent perennials from elsewhere that have adapted very well to our area. (Dianthus and Shasta Daisy are two examples, as are Crape Myrtle and Indian Hawthorn!) If you're not sure how to go about incorporating these into your landscape, join us for this free clinic. We'll teach you how to enjoy the benefits of perennials without transforming your yard into a cottage garden (unless that's what you want).
What We’ll Cover:
- How to mix it up and create contrast with height, color & texture
- Sun vs. Shade and what to do with areas that are both
- Too Much vs. Too Little (the difference between crowded & sparse)
- When to work with the natural contours and when to move some dirt
- Leaving room for annuals (if you want)
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Warm Season Vegetable Gardening
Saturday, March 18
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Nothing beats the taste of fruits and veggies eaten straight from the garden! More and more people are wanting to get food from their yards and are looking into edible gardening. In this FREE clinic focusing on warm weather vegetable crops, we’ll teach you what you need to know for a successful harvest.
What We’ll Cover:
- Where to plant your vegetables (Hint, they need sun!)
- Raised beds & containers
- Soil preparation
- What to plant & when (best crops & easiest crops)
- Pest and disease control
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
How to Grow Great Looking Roses
Saturday, March 25
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Roses are probably the most famous, most loved flowers on Earth. But how can you grow them successfully in North Texas? The poor things have to put up with our heat, humidity, unpredictable winters, black spot, blight, powdery mildew, rose rosette, and more! So, what’s would-be rose gardener to do?
Believe it or not, it is possible to grow beautiful roses in our area, and we’ll teach you how at this free garden clinic.
What We’ll Cover:
- Prepare for success with proper site prep – location, soil, amendments and more!
- Proper pruning to prevent problems
- Disease identification and control
- Pest management
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
April
How to Create a Butterfly Friendly Yard
Saturday, April 1
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
For many, one of the great joys of gardening is all the wildlife it attracts to the yard, especially butterflies! If you aren’t seeing as many as you’d like in your landscape, join us for this FREE clinic. We’ll explain how you can make your yard a magnet for your favorite winged friends.
What We’ll Cover:
- Host plants and nectar plants for different butterfly species
- How to create safe habitats for butterflies so they’ll choose to make your yard their home
- Watering, care, and maintenance tips for long-term success
- A discussion of practices to avoid to prevent harm to butterflies
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.Insert Text Here
Best Plants for Shady Spots
Saturday, April 8
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Are the trees in your front yard huge? Do you have a lot of shade? Do you feel you can’t grow anything interesting or colorful because of all that shade? Do you want to learn about plants that thrive in the shade?
If the answer to any of these questions is, “Yes!” then you’ll want to attend this FREE clinic at Shades of Green.
What We’ll Cover:
- Best plants for shade (Yes, you CAN have color in a shade garden.)
- What to plant if turfgrass won’t grow
- The difference between shade tolerant and shade loving
- Shrubs and ornamental trees that perform really well in shade
- How to create visual interest with texture and color
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Gardening with Texas Natives
Saturday, April 15
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
If you are the least bit familiar with Shades of Green, you know we have a passion for native Texas plants! At this FREE clinic, we’ll discuss several of our favorites and how to incorporate them into your garden or landscape.
What We’ll Cover:
- Benefits of native perennials: drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and low maintenance
- How planting with natives saves water and improves soil
- Best natives for full-sun locations
- Best natives for shady spots
- Great combinations – natives that look great together
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Native Texas plants are something we specialize in here at Shades of Green. We have a plant farm in Collinsville, Texas where we personally grow native perennials. Click here to learn more.
Planting for Summer Heat
Saturday, April 22
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
If you've lived in North Texas for any length of time, you've no doubt realized that our summers are unique. The heat, the humidity, and the long spells between rainfall can be hard on your landscape. Factor in our heavy clay soil that can crack open in the heat of summer and it's a wonder that any plants survive at all. Yet they do. Some even thrive.
If you'd like a landscape that can take the heat of a North Texas summer, please join us for this FREE clinic. We'll teach you how to plant for our excessive heat and still have a great looking yard.
What We'll Cover:
- Proper lawn and flowerbed prep
- Watering do’s and don’ts
- Plant selection for success
- Pest and disease management during summer
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Building a Raised Bed Garden
Saturday, April 29
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Gardening in the heavy clay soil of North Texas is hard work, so why do it? It’s much easier to grow flowers and vegetables above our soil than in it. All you need is the right container. Flower pots will work, but if you want lots of plants, you’ll need more space. One solution is a wooden raised bed. They work well and can last for years if they’re built properly, but doing so does require a bit of skill. Another option that’s really gained traction in recent years, are metal raised beds. These come in kits that are very easy to assemble. They look great and will last far longer than wooden raised beds. At this FREE hands-on clinic, we’ll show you how to build a Vego Garden Modular Metal Raised, demonstrating what to do and how to do it.
What We’ll Cover:
- Site preparation & why it matters (Hint, you’ve got to get rid of the grass.)
- What size should a raised bed be (Too big is too much.)
- Tools & Technique – what to use and how to use it
- Filling & Planting – what and how much
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
May
Lawn Care & Watering for Summer Months
Saturday, May 6
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Do you have a bad case of lawn envy? You know the feeling – when your neighbor’s yard is green and growing, while your yard is full of weeds and brown patches. There is a cure, and it starts with attending this FREE clinic about lawn care and maintenance in summer heat.
North Texas summers can be brutal to a lawn, but there are steps you can take to ensure that yours survives and thrives – even when it’s 105 degrees!
What We’ll Cover:
- Watering do’s and don’ts
- When to water
- How long to water
- How to water – cycle and soak vs. drowning the lawn every other day
- Proper mowing technique (Yes, there is a right way to do it.)
- The ins and outs of weed & pest management
- To fertilize or not? (If yes, when, how & with what?)
- Organic vs. chemical fertilizer programs
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
City of Frisco Water Resources – Weekly watering recommendations, what to water, when to water, how to water, and more. A great resource for Collin County residents whether you live in Frisco or not. There’s a link for Frisco residents to schedule a free sprinkler system check.
Best Summer Annuals (plants that can take the heat)
Saturday, May 13
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Did you know that there are annuals that will look great in a flowerbed all summer long? It’s true. These plants will not only survive, but thrive in the heat and not get eaten by rabbits! (Some of them, anyway.) We’ll tell you all about them and provide tips to help the rest of your landscape look great all summer at this FREE clinic.
What We’ll Cover:
- The best annuals for eye catching color even in a HOT Texas summer
- Combinations that work well together
- Rabbit resistant options for those with bunny problems
- Pest and disease issues common in the summer months and what to do about them
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Xeriscaping isn’t Zero-scaping
Saturday, May 20
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Would you like to have outdoor plants that (almost) never need water? The practice of landscaping with low or no irrigation is called Xeriscaping. The term comes from the Greek word “xeric” meaning dry or arid, but that doesn’t mean a yard full of cactus with zero blooms. There are many plants, including some beautiful native Texas flowers, that do very well in with very little water. We’ll tell you all about them in this free gardening clinic.
What We’ll Cover:
- Xeriscape design
- Best plants for xeriscapes – trees, shrubs and flowers
- How to care for them
- What about water? Do the plants need any? If so, how much & how often?
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Creating Colorful Containers
Saturday, May 27
FRISCO - 10 am
CELINA - 1 pm
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Frisco | Celina
Why do some flower pots and container gardens look Instagram-worthy while others just look sad? There are tricks to making a potted plant display that looks magazine quality amazing and we’ll share them with you in this FREE clinic.
What We’ll Cover:
- The best spring annuals & perennials for eye catching containers
- Plant combinations for best results (hint, don’t mix shade-loving and sun-loving plants in the same container)
- The magic of Thriller, Filler, and Spiller
By the end of this class, you will be able to identify appropriate plants and create a container garden to make your patio pop!
The clinic – held rain or shine – is free and begins at 10 am in Frisco and 1pm in Celina. You’ll receive 45 minutes of quality instruction from one of our professional staff followed by an opportunity to ask specific questions.
Stop By Our Garden Center or Call For More Information
We look forward to meeting you and learning more about your yard and landscaping projects. Feel free to call us any time, or simply stop by! Most of the year we're open seven days a week for your convenience, and we'd love to send you home with some plants that are truly suited to the environment here in Frisco, Texas.
