Academic Catalog

HORT 80K: LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION: ORNAMENTAL MAINTENANCE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2024
Units: 1
Hours: 1 lecture per week (12 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Identify common landscape plant species.
  • Prune common landscape plant species.

Description

General subjects related to certification with the California Landscape Contractors Association. Topics include ornamental horticulture maintenance principles, irrigation principles, irrigation components, maintenance calculations, plant identification review, controller programming, lateral repair and head adjustment, tree planting and staking, pruning, safe operation of landscape maintenance equipment. This course is intended for students seeking Certified Landscape Technician certification.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. List ornamental horticultural principles.
  2. List irrigation principles.
  3. Identify irrigation components.
  4. Perform maintenance calculations.
  5. Identify plant material.
  6. Program an irrigation controller.
  7. Repair irrigation laterals and adjust head placement.
  8. Plant and stake trees.
  9. Prune ornamental landscape plants.
  10. Describe safe operation of landscape maintenance equipment.

Course Content

  1. List ornamental horticultural principles
    1. Determine goals for landscape maintenance
    2. Create a budget for landscape maintenance
    3. Identify standards of quality for landscape maintenance
  2. List irrigation principles
    1. Describe the purpose of irrigation
    2. Identify the types of irrigation
    3. Match irrigation types to plant needs
    4. Describe the methods behind water conservation
  3. Identify irrigation components
    1. Identify irrigation supply and distribution lines
    2. Identify irrigation control equipment
    3. Identify irrigation valves and heads
  4. Perform maintenance calculations
    1. Perform linear, perimeter, area, and volume calculations
    2. Convert volumes to material quantities
    3. Order materials based on calculations
  5. Identify plant material
    1. Identify landscape trees and shrubs
    2. Identify landscape ground covers, vines, perennials, and decorative grasses
  6. Program an irrigation controller
    1. Create irrigation zones
    2. Set irrigation times for zones
    3. Set irrigation cycles for zones
  7. Repair irrigation laterals and adjust head placement
    1. Identify damage and leading irrigation laterals
    2. Repair irrigation laterals
    3. Identify misdirected irrigation heads
    4. Adjust irrigation heads to proper locations
  8. Plant and stake trees
    1. Install landscape trees
    2. Stake landscape trees
    3. Identify other post-planting care required for planted trees
  9. Prune ornamental landscape plants
    1. Assess pruning needs of landscape plants
    2. Describe appropriate pruning cuts for landscape plants
    3. Direct pruning of landscape plants for maximum health and esthetics
  10. Describe safe operation of landscape maintenance equipment
    1. Describe the safe operation of a chainsaw
    2. Describe the safe operation of a power blower
    3. Describe the safe operation of landscape maintenance hand tools

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Classroom with multi-media equipment.
2. Outdoor area with open space to view equipment operation.
3. Horticulture equipment and vehicles.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Objective written exams
Descriptions of field practices
Written reports on horticultural topics

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture from instructor
Lecture from guest speakers
Observe participatory demonstrations
Discussion with groups and students in class

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Professional Landcare Network. Landscape Training Manual for Installation. 2017.

Although this text is older than five years, it is the most recent edition and still relevant to the course. We will adopt the next edition when it is published.

Study manual required for training courses.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading 10-25 pages per week from assigned text
  2. Reading handouts and website material
  3. Web and library research
  4. Writing specifications for ornamental landscape maintenance

Discipline(s)

Ornamental Horticulture