Learn all about garden insects, vegetable garden care, hydroponic gardening made easy, succession planting, apple tree dos and don’ts, and how to be successful with your succulents at the 22nd annual Pine County Master Gardener Horticulture Day on Saturday, March 7, 2026

Pine County Master Gardener Horticulture Day will be held at the Pine City High School on Saturday, March 7, from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Online registration is open!

“Garden Insects: Friends and Foes” will be the keynote presentation by Marissa Schuh, horticulture Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Extension Educator with University of Minnesota Extension.

Minnesota is home to thousands of insects, which ones do we save and which ones do we squish? Marissa’s presentation will cover a general approach for thinking about and managing insects, with a special focus on insects who help gardeners manage pests. 

Six breakout sessions will be offered:

• Vegetable Garden Care by Deb Konieska, Pine County Master Gardener
  Discover how to make the most of your vegetable garden and boost your chances of success.
• Hydroponic Gardening, The Very Easy Way by Larry Cipolla, Hennepin County Master Gardener
  Gardening in water? Absolutely, positively! Learn how to complement your soil-based garden with hydroponics using the organic passive Deep-Water Culture system.
• Success with Succulents by Bonnie Bergerson, Wayne’s Nursery
  Learn everything you need to know about succulents to have them thrive!
• Succession Planting by Laura Irish Hanson, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Horticulture
  Increase productivity and resiliency in your garden with succession planting, a simple method of purposefully timing planting of multiple species one after another. Explore example planting plans for both edible and ornamental gardens.
• Backyard Apple Production by Madeline Wimmer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Fruit Production (morning session only)
  Explore good care practices for backyard apple production from planting to establishment, focusing on key considerations to be successful in your endeavors.
• Apple Pruning 101 by Madeline Wimmer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Fruit Production (afternoon session only)
  In this session, we’ll cover the basics about why apple trees need pruning, how to select suitable tools, where to start using a step-by-step process, and how to know when you’ve done enough to prune a tree into balance for its size and capacity.

Registration will include keynote presentation, breakout sessions, morning refreshments, door prizes, and time to visit our garden marketplace exhibitors. Morning coffee and snacks will be provided for everyone. Lunch is available for an additional cost, with registrations received by February 27.

Advance registrations by February 27:

• $27 with lunch
• $22 without lunch

Registrations after February 27 will be available at the door: $22, no lunch provided.

Online registration is preferred. Mail-in registrations are available upon request.

For more information and links to registration visit z.umn.edu/HortDay.

Questions, or to request a Horticulture Day brochure, call the Pine County Extension office at 320-591-1650 or email mnext-pine@umn.edu.