Course Syllabus: Turfgrass Management

Course Overview

Semester 1

August: Introduction & Industry Safety

Careers in the sports turf and commercial lawn care industries and general shop and equipment safety (mowers, tractors, chemical sprayers)

September: Turfgrass Anatomy & Identification

Grass morphology, and differentiating warm season grasses versus cool season grasses

October: Soils & Growing Media

Physical properties of soil, soil chemistry, pH levels, and collecting/evaluating soil test results

November: Primary Cultural Practices

Correct mowing heights, nutrient requirements, water requirements, controller programming, and basic head maintenance/repair

December: Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Weed identification, and safe herbicide use, common turfgrass insect pests and biological controls, turfgrass diseases and environmental triggers

Course Syllabus: Landscape Design and Management

Course Overview

Semester 2

January : Safety, Tools, and Landscape Careers [1]

Hand and power tool safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe operation of machinery. Exploring careers in landscape design, installation contracting, urban planning, and arboriculture.

February : Botany & Plant Identification

Differentiating annuals, perennials, woody ornamentals, deciduous trees, and evergreen trees.

March : Principles of Landscape Design

Line, form, texture, color, scale, and visual balance. Conducting a site analysis, drafting preliminary bubble diagrams, and creating final conceptual plans.

April : Landscape Soils & Site Preparation

Analyzing soil texture, drainage, organic matter, and compaction.

May : Landscape Maintenance & Plant Care

Identifying common landscape weeds and insect pests and applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles.