YardSmart Lawn and Garden Conference

Fort Worth Water is bringing back YardSmart as a full-day conference designed to provide more effective, beneficial ways to use water wisely in the landscape. The conference is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.

This semiannual conference, sponsored by Fort Worth Water and Tarrant Regional Water District, has a new format this fall with topics including a keynote speaker, featured small sessions, landscape consultations, lunch ‘n learn sessions and DIY sessions, along with the familiar lecture format.

Registration is required to attend and is limited to 200. There is no walk-up registration the day of the event.

Attendance is FREE and LUNCH IS PROVIDED!

Have the option to sign up for a landscape evaluation or a rain barrel building workshop!

SCHEDULE

8:30 a.m. Doors Open for Check In (coffee, tea and water will be available all day)

9:00 a.m. Keynote Presentation: The Sustainability of Water

David Hopman, UTA Professor of Landscape Architecture

10:15 a.m. Session 1

Landscape Care through the Seasons (Claudia Montoya)

Why Is Dirt So Important? (Bob Byers, FW Botanic Garden)

Preventing Stormwater Pollution at Home (TRWD Watershed Team)

What Tools Should I Use? (Toni Moorehead, Master Gardeners)

11:35 a.m. Lunch’n Learn Classes

Virtual Tour-FW Botanic Garden (Bob Byers/Katherine Campbell, FWBG)

Irrigation System Maintenance (Rooted In)

Third session (TBD)

1:00 p.m. Session 2

The Role of Trees in the Landscape (Craig Fox, Fort Worth Forestry)

How to Get a Healthier Lawn (Keith Brock, BRIT-FWBG)

What Tools Should I Use? (Toni Moorehead, Master Gardeners)

Rain Water Harvesting Workshop 1* (Dotty Woodson)

*separate preregistration required for this workshop

2:30 p.m. Session 3

Texas SmartScape: Gardening with Native Plants (NCTCOG)

What’s in your Garden (Besides Plants)? Attracting the Right Creatures

(Kerry Anderson, Texas Discovery Gardens)

Edible Landscapes (Master Gardeners)

Rain Water Harvesting Workshop 2* (Dotty Woodson)

*separate preregistration required for this workshop

3:45 p.m. Wrap Up (Door Prizes and Evaluations)

*Facility is wheelchair accessible. To arrange for sign language interpretation, call TDD 817-392-8544 at least 72 hours prior to event.