Garden Classes in NYC, New York

Container gardening know-how is in high demand. Learn how to create a container garden for your patio, terrace, or entryway that is at once functional and gorgeous—and discover techniques for ensuring that your plants thrive in all four seasons. 

Designed for students who want a user–friendly introduction to plant science, this course surveys the major groups of plants—flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and bryophytes—focusing on plant form and structure.  Learn about the relationships between appearance and function, ecology, systematics, and evolution, and become botanically literate....

Perfume can be traced back thousands of years to an Ancient Egyptian tradition, beloved by Cleopatra. Discover the history of perfume and the therapeutic benefits of essential oils in this hands-on workshop. Learn scent-blending techniques and how to identify and keep perfume notes.  Formulate three unique signature scents using wax, carrier...

Mushrooms have been utilized for thousands of years for medicinal and edible purposes. John Michelotti, owner of Catskill Fungi, will show you how to cultivate gourmet mushrooms at home using safe and simple techniques.  Using cardboard and coffee grounds, create your own oyster mushroom starter (Pleurotus ostreatus) to take home, while learning...

Get hands-on experience from seed to harvest in three hours under the guidance of Farm.One’s expert Farm Manager. Students of all experience levels and all backgrounds are welcome. Classes are limited to 6 students, enabling plenty of one-on-one instruction. In this 120 minute course, you will learn about: The Principles of Hydroponics Hydroponic...

Explore the basic principles underlying successful, environmentally friendly gardening, including the structure and physiological processes of plants and their relationships to the settings in which they grow. Students learn not only what to do, but why.  Topics include  soils and their improvement,  seed sowing,  vegetative...

This one-day course covers the basics of pruning evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs, as well as how to maintain the woody plants in your garden.  Bring your pruners! We will discuss tool selection and maintenance, while we practice techniques using potted plants (at NYBG) and trees in the landscape (at NCNC).  Class is held rain or...

Container gardening requires some specialized knowledge to achieve quality results. Learn the basics for planting and maintaining a healthy outdoor container garden: materials and styles of containers, customized potting mixes, fertilization, and watering requirements.  Learn which plants thrive in containers and you'll be ready to go!

Learn all about the many types of succulents and what differentiates them from other houseplants. Discover how to maintain, repot, diagnose common problems, and propagate. Get hands-on as you create your own succulent soil and plant your own succulent family. Notes: Please bring your registration confirmation and a photo ID to the security desk...

Successful indoor gardening requires knowledge of both plant material and growing techniques. Learn to select the right plants for various locations, based on light levels, temperatures, and aesthetics. Discuss unusual plants, tools and supplies, and maintenance such as grooming, nutrition, and pest control that will keep your plants in good shape.

Enjoy fresh herbs year-round by learning specific techniques for growing them indoors. Whether you want to transplant your outdoor herb garden inside, or start your kitchen herb garden from scratch, this class teaches you the essentials of managing indoor growing conditions, the best ways to harvest herbs, and how to store them for maximum flavor...

Are you looking to up your houseplant game? We can help! We'll walk you through many different species with stunning foliage or flowers—including bromeliads and palms—that will bring a hint of the sun-drenched tropics to your home. We'll discuss the light, soil, water, and maintenance requirements of a broad array of plants, so you can select which...

Want to transform your personal urban space into a green oasis? This class will provide you with the inspiration and the framework to tackle it. Liz Pulver, an award-winning landscape architect specializing in small, city-sized spaces, will help you analyze your space and develop a design concept to fit your vision.  You'll review the planning...

Did you know there are over 200 tree species growing on the streets of Manhattan? Learn to distinguish among the five most common general and pinpoint particular species in this quick intro to tree identification. If you have mystery trees in your neighborhood, bring photos and we'll identify them together. We'll spend some time outdoors too, so dress...

Plants in pots can turn an ordinary deck, rooftop, terrace or front porch, into a bountiful gardening space filled with foliage and flowers. Autumn brings new opportunities—and challenges—for every container gardener, whatever their experience level. Learn which plants are ideal for containers, how to maintain them, and where to easily source...