Beds and Borders Seminar

Discover how to combine herbaceous perennials, bulbs, flowering shrubs, annuals, and small trees in garden beds for maximum visual effect and year-round beauty.

Main Content

Garden beds filled with colorful flowers

Course Status: Not Currently Scheduled

The next offering of this course is tentatively planned for March 2023. Please join our email list to be notified when registration opens!

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Course Details

Course Name: Beds and Borders Seminar
Course Code: AL0213WA22

Date: March 1 & 2, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm EST (Log-in time: 8:30 am EST)

Location: Online
Format: Live, instructor-led

Registration Fee: TBD
Multi Person Discount Fee: TBD (save when you sign up with a colleague!)

Registration Closes: TBD

Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Course Overview

Certificate iconThis class is part of the Landscape Management II Certificate Program.

How do you improve a landscape for a client who can’t or won’t spend the money? One way is to improve the “beds and borders,” described by instructor Bruce Neary as “everything on a property that is not turf.”

Using his energetic style, Bruce will take you through the design, installation, and maintenance process. He’ll teach participants to expertly orchestrate and combine herbaceous perennials, bulbs, flowering shrubs, annuals, and small trees to give the residence year-round beauty – and he’ll demonstrate the effect of artistic plant placement and how to maximize the visual elements of garden bed architecture. You’ll get the feel and impact of a mini design seminar!

  • Conceiving the Design
  • Laying Out the Plans
  • Preparing the Site
  • Choosing the Best Plants
  • Renovating Established Beds
  • Composting and Mulching
  • Maintenance Considerations
  • Staying Flexible

Who Should Attend?

This class is a great source of information for anyone who wants to learn more about soil science and how it affects plant growth. Past participants have included:

  • Department of Public Works Employees
  • Gardeners
  • Grounds Maintenance Workers
  • Horticulture Technicians
  • Landscapers
  • Park Maintenance Workers

Meet Your Instructors

Bruce Neary, BCN Horticultural Services

Headshot of instuctor Bruce Neary

Bruce Neary is the owner of BCN Horticultural Services, where he has provided consulting services to landscape architects, contractors, developers, garden centers, nurseries, educators, and the public since 1994. Regarded as an industry expert, Bruce has written several articles for The Landscape Publication, Grounds Maintenance Magazine, and the American Nurseryman. Likewise, he has been a horticultural lecturer at Barlow Flower Farm and for other landscape organizations for over 30 years. Bruce is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Horticultural Societies, Metro Hort Group, and Perennial Plant Association. He received his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from Rutgers University and his Masters of Agriculture in Horticultural Sciences from Texas A&M.

Student Reviews

Most useful part of the course: “Learning about pH and fertilizer and how to maintain healthy plants.”

– Past Participant

“Good for anyone dealing with soil management or turf management; solid introduction or refresher course.”

– Past Participant

“Helpful course that I would recommend to anyone wanting to understand the basics of soil and plants.”

– Past Participant

Continuing Education Credits

The most recent offering of Beds and Borders Seminar was approved for the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.

The Beds and Borders Seminar is approved for the following credits from professional organizations.

State of New Jersey map iconNew Jersey

NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 6 Technical Contact Hours

United States map iconNational

Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD): 6 CEUs

World map icon International

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): Certified Arborist: 3.25; BCMA-Practice: 3.25

Course Requirements and Policies

electronic devices iconTechnology Requirements

This online course will be delivered via Zoom. Registrants will receive more information as we move closer to the course date. On June 13, 2022, they will receive an email with a link to access the course.

Please log into class at 8:00AM (30 minutes before start time) for a brief overview of the online format. The course will start promptly at 8:30AM.

Equipment you will need to access this training:

  • Laptop or desktop computers are required for this class.
  • Speakers and microphone are not necessary as a call-in option is available.

email iconEmail Requirement

A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.

  • If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
  • If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
    • Your full name
    • The shared email address that needs to be changed
    • Your unique email address
    • A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

camera iconPhoto ID Requirement

Each registrant will be asked provide a photo of him/herself holding their government-issued photo ID. This is required by credit boards so that you may receive credits for participating in this online course.

  • You will receive a reminder email prior to the start of the class with further instructions. Wait to receive these instructions before you attempt to upload your ID.
  • The photo must be clear enough that we can read your name and verify that the person pictured on the ID is in fact the person holding it.
  • The photo must be clear enough that we can read your name and verify that the person pictured on the ID is in fact the person holding it.
  • After an OCPE staff member reviews the picture and verifies your identity, you will have access to participate in the course when it begins.

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $100 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Attention U.S. Veterans

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This course is approved by the New Jersey State Approving Agency for Veterans Training for educational benefits through the GI Bill®. Learn more.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions about the Beds and Borders Seminar, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Headshot of Rutgers Program Coordinator Joe Canzano

Program Coordinator: Joe Canzano
848-932-7317
joe.canzano@rutgers.edu

Rutgers University Shield

Administrative Assistant: Beth Perez
848-932-7483
beth.perez@rutgers.edu

For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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