Home
Contact Us
Related Links

2010 Workshops

Special Events

SmartScape

WaterSmart

Turf Irrigation

Water Audit

SmartScape Espanol

Advanced
SmartScape

• Soils, Plants, and Water
• Desert-Adapted Plants
• Drip Irrigation and Irrigation Controllers
• Integrated Pest Management
• Designing and Renovating Smartscapes
• Plant Selection and Installation
• Pruning and Fertilizer
• Plant Diseases
• Landscape Water Management
  

2010 Schedule: January 12 - February 9. Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday for nine consecutive sessions from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. The first class will start at 3:00 p.m. for orientation.
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 Active Management Area. Please call the SmartScape Program office at 626-5161 for further information.

Class location:
Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation
3500 W. River Road
Tucson, Arizona 85741
Directions: River Road between Shannon and Orange Grove on North side
Please call the SmartScape Program office at 626-5161 for additional information.

• 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
• Drip Irrigation and Irrigation Controllers
  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 Supervisor for Horizons West Landscape Contractors
• 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 also learn common landscape weeds and their control.
  Instructor: Dr. Carl Olson - University of Arizona Associate Curator, Entomology
  Instructor: Dr. David Kopec - University of Arizona Extension Turf Specialist
• Designing and Renovating Smartscapes
  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 and Installation
  This workshop is divided into two classes, each focusing on factors that should be considered when selecting plants and planting landscape plants. Plant Selection teaches participants how to best choose healthy plants for the landscape. Plant Installation teaches participants correct procedures for planting, mulching, and staking.
  Instructors:Marcus White - Casa Blanca Horticultural Services
  Elizabeth Davison - University of Arizona Lecturer and Director of the Campus Arboretum
• Pruning & Fertilizers
  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: Jack Kelly - Pima County Cooperative Extension Commercial Horticulturist
• Plant Diseases
  Participants will learn about some of the important disease organisms that affect landscape plants. Integrated Pest Management and cultural controls will be discussed.
  Instructors: Dr. Mary Olsen - University of Arizona Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology
  
• 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.
  Instructor: Dr. David Kopec - University of Arizona Extension Turf Specialist