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1 Master Gardener Volunteers Core Competencies Revised December 6, 2016 Master Gardener Volunteer Core Competencies for Classwork and Self Study by Lynne Holland, Horticulture Community Education Assistant, and Cathryn Kloetzli, Agriculture and Food Systems Professional These competencies are presented by the subject areas typically covered in the basic Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) training and/or in readings within the manual. The competencies can be used by coordinators as they design their respective training for MGV candidates, by instructors to make sure their lesson covers the topics listed and by the MGV candidate to view, at a glance, all that they will or have learned. Each subject area includes a list of items about which the student has gained knowledge. The subject areas also highlight practical skills that will help students become more confident in assuming their roles to assist clients. These skills offer a set of tangible, specific services that MGVs can use immediately in service to their community. BEING AN EFFECTIVE MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER At the end of this session you will be able to articulate and explain: The mission, program breadth and funding sources of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension How and where the Master Gardener Volunteers program originated Maine Master Gardener Volunteers Program policies The “hows” and “whys” of reporting volunteer hours and activities The process and requirements of annual re-enrollment Tips for effective communication with fellow volunteers, clients, and Extension office staff How to minimize risk when working with youth, elderly and other vulnerable populations (VOLT training principles) Potential Master Gardener Volunteer projects in your area Practical skills gained and strengthened: Be able to identify relevant technical and administrative resources that support you in service to your community. These resources include faculty, office staff, labs, UMaine and nationwide Extension websites aka .edu sites, etc. Be able to better network and reach out to all community members SOILS AND FERTILIZERS At the end of this session you will be able to articulate and explain: The composition of soil

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Page 1: Master Gardener Volunteer Core Competencies for Classwork ... · The difference between biotic and abiotic diseases The three main types of biotic diseases (fungal, bacterial, viral)

1MasterGardenerVolunteersCoreCompetencies

RevisedDecember6,2016

MasterGardenerVolunteer

CoreCompetenciesforClassworkandSelfStudybyLynneHolland,HorticultureCommunityEducationAssistant,and

CathrynKloetzli,AgricultureandFoodSystemsProfessionalThesecompetenciesarepresentedbythesubjectareastypicallycoveredinthebasicMasterGardenerVolunteer(MGV)trainingand/orinreadingswithinthemanual.ThecompetenciescanbeusedbycoordinatorsastheydesigntheirrespectivetrainingforMGVcandidates,byinstructorstomakesuretheirlessoncoversthetopicslistedandbytheMGVcandidatetoview,ataglance,allthattheywillorhavelearned.Eachsubjectareaincludesalistofitemsaboutwhichthestudenthasgainedknowledge.Thesubjectareasalsohighlightpracticalskillsthatwillhelpstudentsbecomemoreconfidentinassumingtheirrolestoassistclients.Theseskillsofferasetoftangible,specificservicesthatMGVscanuseimmediatelyinservicetotheircommunity.BEINGANEFFECTIVEMASTERGARDENERVOLUNTEERAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Themission,programbreadthandfundingsourcesoftheUniversityofMaine

CooperativeExtension● HowandwheretheMasterGardenerVolunteersprogramoriginated● MaineMasterGardenerVolunteersProgrampolicies● The“hows”and“whys”ofreportingvolunteerhoursandactivities● Theprocessandrequirementsofannualre-enrollment● Tipsforeffectivecommunicationwithfellowvolunteers,clients,andExtensionoffice

staff● Howtominimizeriskwhenworkingwithyouth,elderlyandothervulnerable

populations(VOLTtrainingprinciples)● PotentialMasterGardenerVolunteerprojectsinyourarea

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:● Beabletoidentifyrelevanttechnicalandadministrativeresourcesthatsupportyouin

servicetoyourcommunity.Theseresourcesincludefaculty,officestaff,labs,UMaineandnationwideExtensionwebsitesaka.edusites,etc.

● Beabletobetternetworkandreachouttoallcommunitymembers

SOILSANDFERTILIZERSAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thecompositionofsoil

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● Thedifferencebetweensoiltextureandsoilstructure(effectsofexcessivetillage),theadvantagesanddisadvantagesofeachsoiltexture(clay,silt,sand),theimportanceoforganicmatterinthesoil.

● SoilfertilityandpH● TheroleandimportanceofsoilpH

o ThepHscale(acidictobasic,logarithmic)o HowpHadjustmentsaremadeinthesoilo CationExchangeCapacity(CEC)anditsrelationtofertility

● Essentialmacronutrientsandmicronutrientsneededforplantgrowth● Soiltestingandinterpretation

o Don’tGuess,SoilTest!-Theimportanceofsoiltesting.o Howtosamplesoilandcompletethesoiltestingformproperlyo Howtointerpretasoiltestanditsrecommendations

● Howtocomparefertilizerso Typesoffertilizersandtheirrelativeattributes(synthetic&organic)o Howtointerpretafertilizerlabelo Howtoselecttheappropriatefertilizerforaspecificuseo Howtoselectasubstitutefertilizer,whenthefertilizerrecommendedinyour

soiltestresultsisnotavailableatthestoreo Howandwhentoapplyfertilizerstominimizeenvironmentalimpact

● Homecompostingo Keyfactorsineffectivecomposting(microorganisms,organicmaterials(C:N

ratio,particlesize,air,moisture,andpilevolume)o Howtotroubleshootandcorrecthomecompostingproblemso Thecharacteristicsofandusesoffinishedcompost

● Covercroppingandorganicsoilamendmentso Reasonstousecovercropso Appropriatecovercropforeachreasono CovercropsandwhentheyareplantedinMaineo Organicamendmentsandhowtheyaffectsoil

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Howtosamplesoilandcompletethesoiltestingformproperly• Howtointerpretasoiltestanditsrecommendations• Howtointerpretafertilizerlabel• Howtoselecttheappropriatefertilizerforaspecificuse• Howtoselectasubstitutefertilizer• Howandwhentoapplyfertilizerstominimizeenvironmentalimpact• Howtotroubleshootandcorrecthomecompostingproblems

BOTANYAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thebinomialsystem(Genusspecificepithet)ofplantnomenclature● Meaningofthetermshybrid,open-pollinated,varietyandcultivar

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● Plantparts(roots,stems,buds,leaves,flowersandfruits)andtheirfunctions● Beawareofhowaplantisidentified-ie.usingadichotomouskey● Plantgrowth,developmentanddifferentiation● Theprocessesofphotosynthesis,respirationandtranspirationinplants● Majorenvironmentalfactorsthatinfluenceplantgrowth,developmentandphenology

(spacing,nutrients,light,daylength,water,temperature)

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Howtoidentifyaplantusingvarioustools-dichotomouskey,on-linesearch,

referencebooks• Howtoprovidetheproperenvironmentalconditionsforoptimalplantgrowth

andproduction.PLANTPROPAGATIONAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thebasictechniquesandreasonsforvegetative(asexual)propagationofplants

includingdivision,layering,cuttingsandgrafting● Thebasictechniquesandreasonsforseedage(sexual)propagationofplants● Thepartsofaseedandtheenvironmentalfactorsnecessaryforgerminationand

growingon ● Potentialseedlingdiseases● Anunderstandingoftherolethatcontainers,growingmediumandfertilizationplayin

plantpropagation● Theprocessesofhardeningoffandtransplantingseedlings● Thebasicsofseedsavingandstorage

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Howtosuccessfullyperform(andgrowon)atleastonevegetativepropagation

technique. • Howtosuccessfullyperformproperseedingtechnique• Howtohardenofftransplantseedlings

PLANTPATHOLOGYAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thedifferencebetweenbioticandabioticdiseases● Thethreemaintypesofbioticdiseases(fungal,bacterial,viral)● Thefactorsnecessaryforplantdiseasetooccur(the“diseasetriangle”and/or“disease

pyramid”)● Howtousethe‘IPMTriangle’toidentifypreventativemeasuresandcontrolsforplant

diseases● Theimportanceofproperlyidentifyingthedisease,assessingseverityofdamageand

notingtimeofyearbeforeconsideringcontrol

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● Thesignsandsymptomsofatleastonecommondiseaseofornamentals,vegetablesandfruits;(powderymildew,downymildew,Pythiumrootrot,rust,applescabandothers)

● HowtopackagesamplesforshipmenttothePestManagementLabfordiagnosis;andarticulateandexplainwhatinformationisneededforplantdiseasediagnostics

● WhyMasterGardenerVolunteersdonotofferadviceontheuseofpesticides

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Howtopreventandcontrolplantdiseases(IPMTriangle)• Beabletolocatediseaseresistantvarietiesinaseedcatalog• IdentifycommonplantdiseasesfoundinMainegardensandlandscapes• HowtocollectandpackagesamplesforshipmenttothePestManagementLabfor

diagnosis• HowtogatherthenecessaryinformationforplantdiseasediagnosticsENTOMOLOGYAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Keymorphologicalcharacteristicsofinsects;

o Threemajorbodyparts:head,thorax,abdomeno Sixlegso Exoskeletono Antennae

● Thetwocommonlifecycletypesofinsects-gradualandcompletemetamorphosis● Thecharacteristicsoffiveordersofcommongardeninsects:

o Coleoptera(beetles)o Diptera(trueflies)o Lepidoptera(butterfliesandmoths)o Hymenoptera(bees,waspsandants)o Hemiptera(truebugs,hoppers,aphids)

● ThefundamentalcomponentsofIntegratedPestManagement(IPM);o Knowledgeofcrop,Knowledgeofpest,Monitoring,Thresholds,Actionsteps

(actualmanagementmethods)andEvaluation● Howtousethe‘IPMTriangle’toidentifypreventativemeasuresandcontrolsforplant

pests● Commonarthropodpestsoffruitandvegetablecropsandornamentals/turf;

o Fruitcrops:e.g.tarnishedplantbug,strawberryweevil,blueberrymaggot,raspberrycaneborer,applemaggot

o Vegetablecrops:e.g.stripedcucumberbeetle,asparagusbeetle,squashbug,cutworms,hornworm,

o Coloradopotatobeetle,importedcabbagewormo Ornamentals/turf:e.g.Japanesebeetle,lilyleafbeetle,viburnumleafbeetle,

mites,easterntentcaterpillar● Beneficialorganisms(predatoryorparasitic)andhowtoattractthemtothegarden;

o Examples:braconidwasps,ichneumonidwasps,nematodes,ladybeetles,spiders,greenlacewings

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● ThethreatthatinvasiveinsectspeciesposeinMaine● WhyMasterGardenerVolunteersdonotgiveadviceontheuseofpesticides

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Howtopreventandcontrolpests(IPMTriangle)• Becomefamiliarwiththelatestsourcesforcultural/mechanicalpestcontrol

techniquesgearedtoaspecificpest• IdentifycommonpestspeciesfoundinMainegardensandlandscapes• IdentifycommonbeneficialorganismsfoundinMainelandscapes

PESTSandPESTICIDESAFETYAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thedifferenttypesofpesticidesandhowtheywork;

o Insecticides,fungicides,herbicides,rodenticides,etc.● Theterms“natural”,“organic”,“biological”,“synthetic”donotimplyhowsafeortoxica

productis.● Thedifferentpesticideformulations,andwhichformulationsposetheleastriskof

exposuretotheuser;o Readytouse(RTU)solutions,granules,baits,o Emulsifiableconcentrates,o Wettablepowders,aerosols,dusts,etc.

● Howtoread,understandandfollowapesticidelabel;o Activeingredient,o Leveloftoxicity(LD50,signalword),o TypeofPPEtouseo Howtomixandapplyo Siteandpestonwhichitcanbeused,o Reentryinterval/daystoharvest,o Environmentalhazards,emergencyprocedures,etc.o LABELISTHELAWo Applicationisrestrictedtoonlycropslistedonlabel

● Howtoassesstherisksvs.thebenefitsofpesticideuse;o Potentialrisks:non-targetspeciesaffected,off-siteexposure,accumulationin

theenvironment,reductioninnaturalpredators,etc.o Potentialbenefits:betteryield,reducednaturaltoxinsincrops,lesscrop

damage,aesthetic,publichealthimprovements,etc.● PrinciplesofIntegratedPestManagement(IPM);

o Identifytheproblem-Istheproblemcausedbyapest?o Assessthelevelofdamageo Determineifacontrolisneeded(threshold)o Applyacontrol:useleasttoxicoptionfirst,correcttiming/susceptiblestageof

pest,applyonlywhereneeded,etc.o Monitorandassesstheresult:keeprecordsofpestdamage,controlsusedand

results

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● Howtoreducepesticideexposuretotheenvironment;o Alternativepestmanagementstrategies:culturalcontrols,mechanicalcontrols,

biologicalcontrols,tolerancefordamage,etc.o Spottreatmentsinsteadofbroadcasttreatmentso Principlesofresistanceandresistancemanagemento Reducepesticidedrift:timing,weathero Protectwaterbodies(25footbufferzonerequiredforallbroadcast

applications)o Keepproductsoffimpervioussurfaces,don’tapplyjustbeforerain.

● Howtominimizepesticideexposuretohumans;o Identifyindividualsensitivitieso Selectionanduseofproperpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE)o Keepinoriginalcontainerso Followpropermixingandapplicationprocedureso Understanddose:exposure&toxicity

● Howtoproperlystore,secureanddisposeofpesticides.o Keepinalocationawayfromchildreno Purchasethesmallestquantityforyourneedso Understandthestorageneedsofdifferentformulationsofpesticide:(powder,

liquid,EC,etc.)● BecomefamiliarwithMaineBoardofPesticidesControl(BPC)

o Questionso Complaintso PesticidePick-Upsforold,outofdate,expired

● WhyMasterGardenerVolunteersdonotgiveadviceontheuseofpesticides

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Howtoread,understandandfollowapesticidelabel;• AcquireandkeepdedicatedPPEonhandtousewhenneeded.Knowhowto

launderandre-use,ifapplicable.• Howtoaccesscredibleinformationonpesticides.

FOODSECURITYAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● ThelateststatisticsandimpactsoffoodinsecurityinMaine● Thechallengesofprovidingfreshproducetohungryresidentsviafoodpantries-

o Clientsmaynotwantito Littleornorefrigerationo Infrequentlyopen-somepantriesonlyopenonceamontho Limitedspaceorfacilitieso Expandingneedfornutritioneducationandcookingdemosthatoutstrips

currentstaffing● HowtobecomemoreinvolvedintheMaineHarvestforHungerProgramoranother

localfoodsecurityprogram

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Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• HowtobecomemoreinvolvedintheMaineHarvestforHungerProgramoranotherlocalfoodsecurityprogram

FOODSYSTEMSAttheendofthesesessionsyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thecomponentsofafoodsystemandeachperson’sroleinitasaconsumerand

perhapsalsoasproducer,processorand/ordistributor● HowtheUniversityofMaineCooperativeExtensionsupportsandispartoftheMaine

FoodSystem● Thecurrentstatisticsregardingfoodwasteandstepsthatcanbetakenindividuallyand

state-widetominimizethefoodwastestreamPracticalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• Activelyinvolveyourselfinthefoodsystem-ie.supportinglocalfarms,minimizingwaste,becominganinformedconsumer

GROWINGVEGETABLESANDHERBSAttheendofthesesessionsyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Factorstoconsiderwhenselectingagardensite● Factorstoconsiderwhenplanningavegetablegarden

o Varietyselectiontomatchconditionso Comparisonofraisedbeds,ingroundbedsandconventionalrowso Reasonsforcroprotationandhowtodevelopasimplerotationplano Conceptsandpracticesforintensivevegetableproductiono Basicgardenrecordkeeping

● Keyaspectsofvegetablegardenmaintenanceo Wateringo Weedmanagemento Fertilization

● Techniquesforextendingthegardenseason● Howandwhentoharvestandproperlystorecommonvegetablecrops● FoodsafetyandGoodAgriculturalPractices(GAP)forasafeharvestPracticalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• Identify,prevent,andmanagecommonweeds• Howtoplan,plant,andmaintainavegetableand/orherbgarden• Howtoimplementsuccessionplanting• Howandwhentoharvestandproperlystorecommonvegetablecrops

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• Foodsafetypracticesusedinpreparingfreshfoodsforconsumption

GROWINGSMALLFRUITSAttheendofthesesessionsyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thecriticalcomponentsofasuitablesiteforgrowingsmallfruits● Fundamentalsofgrowingstrawberries;properplanting,earlycare,winterproduction

andrenovationstrawberrybeds;characteristicsofrecommendedvarieties● Fundamentalsofgrowingraspberriesandblackberries;properplanting,earlycare,

trellisingandpruningofbrambles;characteristicsofrecommendedvarieties● Fundamentalsofgrowinghighbushblueberries;specialsoilneeds,properplanting,

earlycareandpruning;characteristicsofrecommendedvarieties● Typesofpruningcuts(headingandthinning)andhowplantsrespond● Whycurrantsandgooseberries(Ribesfamily)areillegaltoimportandgrowinpartsof

MainePracticalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• Howtoselectandprepareapropersiteforspecificsmallfruitspecies • Howandwhentorenovateastrawberrybed • Howtotrellisandprunebrambles • Howandwhentoprunehighbushblueberries• Selecting,usingandcaringforappropriatetoolsforpruningsmallfruit

WILDLIFEAttheendofthissessionyouwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Commonproblemscausedbywildlifeinthegardenandlandscapeandfirstlineof

defensemeasures.o http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/human/living.htmlo http://npic.orst.edu/pest/wildyard.html

● TheUniversityofMaineCooperativeExtensionnolongerrespondstowildlifedamagecontrolcalls.TheUSDAWildlifeServiceshouldaddressallwildlifecallsandsituations.

o http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/pdfs/adc09112016.pdfPracticalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• Identifyinglocalresourcestoassistclientswithwildlifeissuesinthehomegardenandlandscape

GROWINGFRUITTREESAttheendofthistraining,youwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thecriticalcomponentsofasuitablesiteforgrowingfruittreesinthehomelandscape

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● ThedifferentspeciesoffruittreescommonlygrowninMaineandamajorweaknessforeach

● Theselectionprocessforappropriatevarietiesoffruittrees● Whyandwhenfruittreesarecommonlygrafted● Thedifferencebetweendwarf,semi-dwarfandstandardsizedfruittrees● Reasonswhyrootstocksareusedintreefruitproduction● Basicprinciplesandpurposesforpruningdifferentkindsoffruittrees

o Typesofpruningcuts(headingandthinning)andhowplantsrespond● Disease,insectandwildlifepreventionandcontrolmethods

● http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fphg/wildlife-damagePracticalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• Howtoselectappropriaterootstocksandvarietiesoffruittreesforspecificlocationsandgrowingconditions

• Howtoplant,prune,andcareforfruittrees• Selecting,using,andcaringforappropriatetoolsforpruningfruittrees• Identifyresourcestohelpwithwildlifecontrolinorchards

SELECTIONANDCAREOFHERBACEOUSLANDSCAPEPLANTSIfthissectionisaddressedintraining,youwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thelifecyclesoffloweringannuals,biennialsandperennials● Thecriteriaforappropriateherbaceousplantselectionforaestheticorutilitarian

purposes:o Fordifferentsiteconditions(sun,shade,wet,dry,etc)o Toaddresslandscapeconditionsorproblems(screening,wetswale,heavy

trafficetc.)● Explainthemostcommonwaysinwhichherbaceousplantsarepropagated● Groupplantswithsimilarneeds(water,fertilizer,sun)foreasiermaintenance● Generalflowergardencareduringtheseason.

o Siteselectiono Soilpreparationo Transplantingo Managingweedso Fertilizing o Effectiveirrigation

● GiveexamplesofplantsandplantcombinationsthataresuitableforMainegardensandrelativelynewinthetrade.

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• RIGHTPLANT,RIGHTPLACE:GiveexamplesofplantsandplantcombinationsthataresuitableforMainegardens

• Howtoselecthealthyplantsfromaretailer

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SELECTIONANDCAREOFWOODYLANDSCAPEPLANTSIfthissectionisaddressedintraining,youwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Thethreeformsinwhichtreesandshrubscanbepurchasedandtheadvantage

disadvantagesofeachformo Balledandburlapped(B&B)o Containerizedo Bare-root

● Thebasicstepsandconsiderationsforplantingatreeorshrubo Selectingthepropertreeforthesiteo Timingo Holesize(depthandwidth)o Prosandconsofamendingbackfillo Wateringo Stakingo Mulching

● Howandwhentoproperlytransplantdifferentlandscapetreeso Timingo Rootpruning

● Thebasicsoflandscapetreeorshrubcareo Establishmentperiodandwaterneedso Fertilizationo Pruning

● Thebasicsofpruninglandscapetreesandshrubso Reasonsforpruning(safety,planthealth,controlsize,directgrowth,promote

floweringorfruiting)o Necessarytools,toolcareandsafety(polepruners,loppers,pruningsawsand

handshears)o Appropriatetiming(timeofyear,ageofplant)o Typesofpruningcuts(headingandthinning)andhowplantsrespond

● Non-native,invasivewoodyplantsinMaineandwhytheyareaprobleminmanagedlandscapes.(NorwayMaple,wingedeuonymus,orientalbittersweet,Japanesebarberry,shrubbyhoneysuckle,etc.)

● Familiaritywithsomeofthetypicalnativetreesandshrubsappropriatefordifferentlandscapeconditions.Groupplantswithsimilarneeds(water,fertilizer,sun)foreasiermaintenance.

o Sunny,welldrainedlandscapeo Shady,woodlandlandscapeo Seasonallyfloodedlandscapeo Coastal,lakesideoralpinelandscape(Choosewhatismostappropriateforyour

regionofthestatePracticalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

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• Howtoplantandcareforwoodylandscapeplants • Properuseofdifferentpruningcuts(headingandthinning),takingintoaccount

howtheplantswillrespond • Beabletorecommendtypicalnativetreesandshrubsappropriateforthese

differentlandscapeconditions- o Sunny,welldrainedlandscapeo Shady,woodlandlandscapeo Seasonallyfloodedlandscapeo Coastal,lakesideoralpinelandscape

SUSTAINABLELAWNSANDGROUNDCOVERSIfthissectionisaddressedintraining,youwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:● Sustainablelawnestablishmentpractices

o Theadvantagesanddisadvantagesofusingseedorsodo Propersitepreparationo Selectionofappropriategrassvarietieso Howandwhentoseedalawn

● Low-inputlawnmaintenanceo De-thatchingo Aerationprocedureandtimingo Propermowingtechniqueso Waterandfertilizingo Over-seedingo Managingweed,insectsanddiseaseso CommonseasonalpracticesinMaine

● AlternativestoTurfo Advantagesanddisadvantagesofreducingturf-grasso Methodsforremovingturfo Alternativestoturfwithafocusongroundcoversandnativespecies

Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:

• HowtoselectappropriategrassvarietiesforaMainelawn• Howtoeffectivelymaintainahealthylawnthroughpropermowing,fertilization

andwatering

SUSTAINABLELANDSCAPEDESIGNIfthissectionisaddressedintraining,youwillbeabletoarticulateandexplain:• Theelementsoftheartoflandscapedesign

o Color,texture,form,line,space,pattern,andlight• Basicstepsoflandscapedesignbasedonbiology,siteanalysis,engineeringandproject

management

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o Assessthesiteinrelationtothegoalsoftheproject▪ Definetheenvironmentbothaboveandbelowtheground▪ Considerthefunctionofthespace-functionbeforeform▪ Makealistofthethingsyouwouldliketoincludeinthefinalplan

o Developatheme/themesforthelandscapeforfilteringdecisions▪ Designforbeautyusingtheelementsofartinthelandscape▪ Determinewhichfunctionswouldbebestservedbyhardscapeand

whichbyplants▪ Designthestructureandlayoutofthelandscape

o Assessthefactorsinfluencingthedesign▪ Assesswhatisgoodintheexistinglandscapeandwhatneedstobe

eliminated▪ Developabudget(laborandmaterials)fortheentireprojectandsub-

projects▪ Considerlaborandfinancialcostsoflong-termmaintenance▪ Createaninstallationtimelinewherehardscapeprecedesplanting

o Installation:Selectplantsanduseproperplantingpractices• Filterplantchoicesbytheme• Chooseplantsbyfunctionandsuitabilitytosite• Considerhardiness,size,color,texture,andseasonality• Developeffective,scaled,sustainableplantcombinations• Followgoodplantingandestablishmentpractices• Applyinglandscapedesignprinciplestoprojects

o Balance/Style o Dominance,focalpoint,

focalizationo Scaleandproportion

Rhythmandrepetition

o Transition/Tension o Contrasto Unity o Simplicity

• Evolutionoflandscapedesigninreactiontoenvironmentalstewardshipo Sustainabilityo Appropriateuseofnativeandnon-invasiveexoticplantso Waterqualityandconservationo Energyconservationo Developingsustainablelandscapesthathavelongterm,lowcarbonfootprint.o Awarenessofwhatpracticeswillhelpmeetthegoalsofthespaceand

sustainability Practicalskillsgainedandstrengthened:• Beabletoassessalandscapedesign-highlightingstrengthsandofferingareasfor

improvement• Beabletodrawabubblediagramofahomelandscapedesign.