Landscaping Maintenance

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Basic Plant Care

Topics: Plant structure; Organic matter in soils; Acidity, alkalinity of soils; Macronutrients; Micronutrients; Soil temperatures

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the importance of understanding and using a uniform plant identification system, and name the classifications into which plants are grouped.
• List six essentials of plant life.
• Describe the pH scale and tell how the acidity or alkalinity of a soil affects plant growth.
• Tell how to recognize the symptoms of overwatering and underwatering.
• Name at least four nutrients plants need, explain why is needed, and tell how to recognize a lack of overabundance of each.

Chapter 2: Shade Trees

Topics: Tree shapes, sizes, textures, and colors; Hardiness; Growth rate; Handling and transporting nursery stock; Storing, planting, watering, and pruning trees

Learning Objectives:

• Give examples of the following: course-textured, medium-textured, and fine-textured trees.
• Describe the three ways in which nursery stock is normally offered for sale.
• List and explain the five steps involved in planting a landscape tree.
• Tell why trees may require pruning and describe the two basic pruning cuts.
• Summarize the safety rules that apply when doing tree maintenance work.

Chapter 3: Turf Management

Topics: Cool and warm season grasses; Mowing, fertilizing, and watering; Light and shade; Seeding, sodding, plugging, sprigging, and stolonizing; Pests and weeds

Learning Objectives:

• Tell how lawns and grass plants differ from other types of landscape plants.
• Define and give examples of cool season grasses and warm season grasses.
• Discuss the importance of proper mowing.
• List three things to keep in mind when watering turf.
• Describe how to establish turf by plugging and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method.

Chapter 4: Shrub and Flower Care

Topics: Characteristics and types of shrubs; Hedges; Planting, care of shrubs; Ground cover; Vines; Flowers; Annuals; Biennials; Perennials; Bulbs

Learning Objectives:

• List several things to consider when selecting shrubs.
• Explain the different kinds of pruning required by different kinds of shrubs-for example, spring-flowering shrubs, roses, narrow-leafed evergreens, and hedges.
• Explain how to plant and care for vines.
• Name and define the three classes into which flowers fall.
• Give several examples of hardy bulbs and tender bulbs and compare and contrast the methods of care each requires.

Chapter 5: Pest and Disease Control

Topics: Viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects, galls, and weeds; Pesticides; Spraying equipment; Other equipment for pest and weed control; Safety

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize fungi and the symptoms of bacteria disease and tell how to control them.
• Identify several living things that help control insects.
• Name several different kinds of pesticides and the ways in which they work.
• Explain the different kinds of pesticides and the ways in which they work.
• List several things to consider when choosing where each is used.
• Describe some of the many forms in which pesticides come and ways in which they are applied.

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