Free gardening workshop at Los Lunas Library offers spring planting tips

Los Lunas gardeners who want to stretch their food budgets and make spring watering count will get a free lesson from the Valencia Extension Master Gardeners at the Los Lunas Public Library.

The Garden Survival Series workshop is set for Saturday, April 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 460 Main Street NE in Los Lunas. No RSVP is required. The session will focus on healthy soils, beneficial insects, wildlife management, soil testing, composting and simple ways to improve plant performance, giving homeowners practical steps they can use right away in backyards, raised beds and small garden plots.

Merlina Acevedo, a master gardener with the group, said healthy soil is the building block of any garden. She said local gardeners can learn how to manage their own soil so fruits, vegetables and flowers have a better chance of thriving. That message lands in a place where spring weather can turn quickly and where water use matters, especially for residents trying to grow more of their own food without driving up household costs.

The workshop is aimed at everyday gardeners, not professionals. Organizers said attendees will get an overview of what soil is made of, how to amend it, how composting fits into home gardening and how to sample soil for testing. Master gardeners also will be available to answer questions about trees, landscapes, insects and other problems showing up in local yards.

Another key piece of the program is its focus on beneficial insects and mechanical pest control, offering alternatives to leaning too heavily on chemicals. The flyer says the goal is to help attendees get the best garden results through healthy soil, beneficial insects and wildlife management. The workshop is part of a broader Garden Survival Series promoted by Valencia County Extension, which describes its mission as providing practical, research-based knowledge and programs to improve quality of life.

The Valencia County Extension Office is at 404 Courthouse Road in Los Lunas and can be reached at 505-565-3002. The flyer also says all programs are open to everyone regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status, with New Mexico State University and USDA cooperating in the program.