Learn About Native Plant Landscapes and Building Healthy Soil With Mulch

The East End chapter of ReWild Long Island will present a webinar on Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. on the best methods for maintaining a spring garden while benefiting birds, bees and other wildlife.

Anthony Marinello, the founder of Dropseed Native Landscapes in Malverne, will explain how gardeners can support critical habitat. Topics will include when leaves that have protected bees, caterpillars and fireflies over the winter can be safely moved and the best timing for cutting back the previous growing season’s plant stems.

“Learn how your actions, from initial design to seasonal maintenance, support beneficial wildlife,” ReWild Long Island states.

Marinello, who holds a permaculture design certificate from the Center for Bioregional Living in Ellenville, created Dropseed Native Landscapes to educate Long Islanders on the skills needed to transform the island’s suburban landscapes into a “native plant oasis” for wildlife as well as people. He’s also a member of the Long Island Native Plant Initiative board.

Then on Thursday, April 6, at 7 p.m., ReWild Long Island and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County present “Soil Secrets and Mulch Murmurs.”

Tamsen Yeh, a pest management and turf specialist for the cooperative extension, will explain how to build healthy soils and how to use mulch to protect and support soils. She will discuss soil structure and nutrition, how to read a soil test, soil interaction with mulch and the impact of soil on roots and plant growth — and on plant death.

For the Zoom links, visit rewildlongisland.org/events.