Impact Renovations: Beds and Borders

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Discover how well-designed and maintained garden beds and borders can be a cost-effective method to maximize the visual appeal and year-round beauty of home landscapes.

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Course Details

Course Name: Impact Renovations: Beds and Borders
Course Code: AL0288CA26

Date: March 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (Check-in time: 8:30 am)

Location: Bioresource Engineering Laboratory, 18 Ag Extension Way, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (Directions & Map)
Format: Classroom course

Registration Fee: $210 per person

Registration Closes: March 1, 2026

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

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 how to design and maintain aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound garden beds. Past participants have included:

  • Landscapers
  • Grounds Supervisors
  • Homeowners
  • Master Gardeners
  • Pesticide Applicators
  • Garden Center Owners

Meet Your Instructor

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 more than 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 master’s of agriculture in horticultural sciences from Texas A&M.

Student Reviews

“I learned more in these two days than I have in some college classes.”

– Past Participant

On instructor Bruce Neary: “Bruce’s knowledge is top notch. Incredible insight.”

– Past Participant

“Wide range of topics; great for beginners, also gives great tips for veterans.”

– Past Participant

Continuing Education Credits

There are no credits offered for the Impact Renovations: Beds and Borders course (5.5 contact hours).

Course Requirements and Policies

Meals

No breakfast will be provided. Lunch will be available for pre-registered attendees only.

NOTE: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please alert us at least two (2) weeks in advance of the course start date so that we can make reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations for special requests made after that time.

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Please visit our policies page for the latest information.

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Pre-registration is required. We’re sorry, but we cannot guarantee a seat, materials, or meals for walk-in registrants.

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Location is subject to change; registrants will be notified in the event of a change.

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All visitors must register their vehicles ONLINE to park on campus. Please follow the guidelines below. Failure to comply with these policies may result in a citation.

  • A link to register your vehicle will be provided in your course confirmation email. Please be sure to complete this important step prior to traveling to campus.
  • When you park on campus, be sure that your license plate is unobstructed and visible from the driving aisle.
  • All Rutgers faculty/staff/students must use their regular Rutgers permit and park in the nearest lot assigned for their permit type.

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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

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $35 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

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Administrative Assistant: Damiana Parada
848-932-7107
damiana.parada@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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