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Fall 2012: Smartscape Certificate Recipients |
Smartscape is a series of nine two-hour workshops designed to encourage consistent horticultural practices compatible with the Sonoran Desert.
The classes are designed for Green Industry personnel including urban property managers, landscape maintenance and installation personnel, nursery personnel, landscape architects, designers, Parks & Recreation personnel, HOA board members, students and others who are responsible for the health and beauty of landscapes in their care.
Participants must register and attend all sessions to receive a Certificate of Completion.
Registration is on a first come, first serve basis with preference given to Green Industry personnel in the Tucson area.
Classes are scheduled from 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.
**Note: The first class date includes Orientation, from 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. All subsequent classes begin at 3:00 p.m.
Seating is limited. Registration is required. Please contact the SmartScape Program Office via phone at 520.626.5161.
Class location:
Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation
3500 W. River Rd. Tucson, Arizona
(N side of River between Shannon/Orange Grove)
Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the SmartScape Program at the Pima County Cooperative Extension office at 520-626-5161. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
Workshop Topics:
Click on the title to learn more about each class.
Download 2013 Winter Schedule
Soils, Plants, and Water
This class is basic to understanding the dynamic relationships of soils, plants, and water and is the foundation course of the SmartScape Professional Series. Instruction focuses on soil texture and structure and how it affects water movement, infiltration rates and water holding capacity. Mechanisms that plants use to regulate water use are also discussed.
Instructor: Dr. Ursula Schuch - University of Arizona Extension Specialist, Arid Ornamentals
Desert-Adapted Plants
This class identifies many of Tucson's common desert landscape plants and provides basic discussion of their traits that make them suitable for the urban and suburban landscape. Specific characteristics such as flower color, seasonality, size, and hardiness, as well as maintenance specifications and other considerations are also presented.
Instructor: Greg Starr - Owner of Starr Nursery
Automated Irrigation Systems
This class discusses various common irrigation systems and focuses on designing, installing, and program scheduling a drip irrigation system. Maintenance and troubleshooting are also discussed.
Instructor: Steve Mallgren - Irrigation Specialist for H & M Professional Services
Integrated Pest Management
Participants will learn about some of the important insects that affect landscape plants. Integrated Pest Management and cultural controls will be discussed. Participants will also learn how to control common landscape weeds.
Instructor: Dr. Carl Olson - University of Arizona Associate Curator, Entomology
Instructor: Dr. David Kopec - University of Arizona Extension Turf Specialist
Landscape Design & Renovation
This class focuses on the principles and concepts of designing and installing a landscape. Special attention is given to Xeriscape landscaping and renovating an existing landscape from high-water use to low-water use. Participants also learn how to interpret a landscape design blueprint.
Instructor: Paul Connolly - APLD Certified Landscape Designer for Sonoran Gardens, Inc.
Plant Selection & Installation
This workshop focuses on factors that should be considered when selecting plants and planting landscape plants. Participants will learn how to choose healthy plants from a nursery and how to correctly install the new plants. Instructor: Marcus White - Casa Blanca Horticultural Services
Maintaining Desert - Adapted Plants
This workshop divides desert-plant maintenance into two categories - pruning and fertilizing. All pruning instruction is based on International Society of Arboriculture guidelines and uses pictorial slides and actual samples to illustrate the speaker's main points. The fertilizing portion of the workshop focuses on plant needs for macro- and micronutrients, determining correct fertilizers to use and calculating the appropriate quantities of fertilizers to purchase and apply.
Instructors: Jose Cano - Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation
Plant Disorders
Participants will learn about some of the important disease organisms that affect landscape plants. Integrated Pest Management and cultural controls will be discussed.
Instructors: Bill Haldeman - Tucson Airport Authority
Landscape Water Management
This class focuses on reducing water waste through efficient irrigation. Participants learn about irrigation scheduling, irrigation techniques and proper cultural practices and reiterates factors taught throughout the series that influence plant water use in landscape.
Instructors: Dr. David Kopec - University of Arizona Extension Turf Specialist