This course is designed for homeowners, gardeners, and landscapers. Students will explore an interest in gardening and landscaping as a hobby, for professional growth, or to broaden their knowledge of horticulture. Students will gain expertise in gardening and landscaping principles tailored for desert and semi-arid environments, encompassing both conventional and organic practices. Completing this course fulfills the training requirements for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program.
Prerequisites
None
1. Explain basic botany concepts and their practical applications in gardening and landscape management.
2. Identify and compare soil types, fertilizers, and compost materials used in horticultural systems.
3. Describe plant physiological processes that influence growth, health, and management practices.
4. Assess optimal irrigation practices suitable for arid and semi-arid environments.
5. Summarize key principles underlying vegetable and herb gardening.
6. Explain essential concepts related to fruit production and or orhard management.
7. Demonstrate appropriate pruning techniques for a variety of plant species.
8. Describe insect–plant interactions, emphasizing the roles of pests, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
9. Identify plant health disorders resulting from biotic and abiotic pathogens.
10. Analyze factors contributing to vertebrate pest population growth and establish criteria for classifying animals as pests.
11. Classify weed species by type (monocots and dicots) and by life cycle (annual, biennial, and perennial).
12. Assess integrated weed management strategies that promote sustainability in landscape and garden systems.
13. Describe the selection, use, and maintenance of low-water-use ornamental plants in landscape design.
14. Explain home ignition zones and how vegetation, materials, and design strategies can enhance wildfire resilience.
15. Compare and contrast multiple plant propagation methods.
16. Evaluate sustainable landscape practices that conserve water, soil, and biodiversity.
17. Analyze the influence of climate, microclimates, and site conditions on plant selection and landscape performance.