Join us for a Garden Maintenance workshop providing season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline planting projects.

2022 Maintenance Workshops

• Thursday, March 24 – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 25 – 5:00 p.m.

The Garden Maintenance Workshops are provided FREE and open to all – Dakota County residency is not required!

Zoom access:

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://dakotacountymn.zoom.us/j/94964599772?pwd=YUU0K09hOHYrRmF6WWZRaGd6TXkrQT09

Passcode: 923942

Or One tap mobile :

US: +16513728299,,94964599772#,,,,*923942#

Or Telephone:

Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 651 372 8299

Webinar ID: 949 6459 9772

Passcode: 923942

International numbers available: https://dakotacountymn.zoom.us/u/aeTWn3Vfw

For free testing, bring a water sample to the free walk-in clinic at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan. This event is supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and is held in conjunction with the Scott SWCD tree pickup and seedling sale. This clinic is free and open to the public; no appointments are necessary.

How to take your sample

1. Run the cold tap faucet for 3 minutes.

2. Collect about one cup of water in a plastic baggie (double bagged) or a clean disposable water bottle/glass jar.

3. Collect the water anytime within 24 hours of the clinic and keep the water cool.

Bring your friends and family to help clean up the Lakeville area and celebrate Earth Day. The Earth Day celebration runs from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., with cleanup before or after.

Register here.

Need some inspiration for your garden, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn how incorporating native plants into your garden can add amazing water quality benefits to your property? Looking to exercise your green thumb, but want advice on planting pollinator habitat? Knowledge gained through the Landscaping for Clean Water program will inform and empower you to create a raingarden, native pollinator garden, or shoreline planting that will bring beauty and great environmental benefits to your property this year and for many to come!

In 2022, the Landscaping for Clean Water program will celebrate its 16^th year of educating and assisting residents to install beautiful and low-maintenance plantings. Over the years, we have met with close to 5,200 landowners and installed over 660 projects in neighborhoods all around the county. This program is offered to residents through a partnership between the Dakota County SWCD, and local cities and watershed organizations.

This year’s suite of programming – Introduction to Clean Water Class, Design Course, and Maintenance Workshop – will provide skills and resources to landowners at every stage of their gardening journey.

The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilizations. The classes provide an overview of local water quality challenges and provide beautiful and practical ways of reducing runoff pollutants that are causing issues. It also includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents.

After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you can enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course is a great for those interested in learning about garden planning from the experts, whether you want to know more about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or the best plants for our landscape. Participants walk away with a ready-to-install garden!

The Landscaping for Clean Water Maintenance Workshop provides season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline restoration projects.

This meeting has been canceled.

This meeting has been canceled due to a lack of agenda items.

Join the Vermillion Stewards in distributing native seed and removing garlic mustard at Vermillion River Linear Park in Hastings. Friends of the Mississippi River staff will provide instructions. Please contact Sophie Downey to register. FMR requests limiting groups to 4 or fewer.