Course Descriptions

• 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, Starr Nursery
   
• Irrigation Systems
  This class discusses various common irrigation systems and components and focuses on design, installation, and programming an automated irrigation system for effectively distributing landscape water.
  Instructor:  Steve Mallgren - Irrigation Supervisor, Horizons West Landscape Contractors
   
• Integrated Pest Management
  Participants will learn about some of the common insects and weeds associated with urban landscapes and management strategies for their control.
  Instructor:  Dr. Carl Olson - University of Arizona Associate Curator, Entomology
   
• 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, Sundréa Design Studio
   
• 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.
  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.
  Instructor:  Bill Haldeman - Tucson Airport Authority
   
• Plant Disorders
  This class focuses on common plant diseases and problems associated with cultural care.
  Instructor:  Jose Cano - Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation
   
• 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
   
• Return to SmartScape Professional Certification page.