UMass Extension's Green School

GENERAL INFORMATION | SCHEDULE/CURRICULUM

2008 Location: Doubletree Inn (formerly Sheraton Milford and Radisson Milford), 11 Beaver St., Milford, MA (at exit 19 off Route 495).

Description: Green School is a comprehensive certificate short course for Green Industry professionals taught by UMass Extension Specialists and University of Massachusetts faculty.  This course is designed for landscapers, lawn care specialists, arborists and other horticultural practitioners wishing to gain an understanding of horticultural fundamentals and strategies and their relation to environmental quality.  Green School attendees learn about sustainable approaches to turf and landscape management and tree care, making environmentally appropriate decisions related to turf and plant selection, arboriculture, plant maintenance, and pest and nutrient management.

The Green School curriculum is based on research and information emphasizing environmental stewardship and integrated pest management (IPM).  Participants develop an understanding of how proper management practices impact natural resources such as soil and water. This program focuses on the management of the landscape as a whole, and is appropriate for garden center managers and employees, private or municipal grounds managers and personnel, landscape and lawn care operators, nursery operators and personnel, tree wardens, arborists, and professional gardeners.

Students choose a "specialty track" when registering.  Three tracks are offered - Turf Management, Landscape Management, or, new this year, Arboriculture, which is especially geared for professional arborists.

In addition, Green School is also helpful for people preparing to take the following professional certification exams: Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) offered by the Massachusetts Arborist Association, Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) offered by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and the Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional (MCLP) offered by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts. Discount study materials for these additional association exams will be available from the respective organizations to students attending Green School.

2008 pesticide contact hours: 12 contact hours for Massachusetts categories 29, 36, 37; 6 contact hours for Massachusetts Licensed Applicator Training. Attendance at Green School will satisfy part of the Experience Requirement necessary to sit for the certification exam in Categories 29, 36, 37. Pesticide credits will be accepted for all New England states. Credits available for MCH, MCLP and MCA. ISA recertification credits have been requested.

UMass academic credits: No college credit available.

Certificate: Awarded upon achieving 75% average score. There will be a daily quiz on the preceding session's material, plus a take home quiz on the last day. An average of all quiz grades will comprise the final grade.

Cost: $625 in 2008 (subject to change), includes all materials.

Questions? Send an e-mail to greenschool@umassgreeninfo.org. You may also call the Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program at (413) 545-0895 or Mary Owen, Turf Program, at (508) 892-0382.

Thursday, November 6                      
8:45 AM Orientation ABC
An overview on note taking, preparing for exams, general operating procedures, snow cancellation policies, credit for certification programs and Mass. pesticide license, instructor evaluations and certificate requirements.

9:15 Basic Botany - The Green Machine: It's Parts and How They Work ABC     
Ron Kujawski, UMass Extension
Learning how plants are put together, how they grow, and how they respond to their environment can help practitioners understand the cultural requirements of landscape plants. Such knowledge can be helpful in avoiding problems relating to plant health, and can aid in the diagnosis of plant health issues.

2:00 PM Basic Principles of  IPM and PHC ABC           
Robert Childs, UMass Extension
The principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) form the foundation for understanding and implementing wise management strategies for pests in both traditional agriculture and the Green Industry. Although its practice allows for the use of pesticides, IPM mandates that all actions in pest management be based on well-informed practices that have emerged from years of university research and are proven to assist in reducing pest populations to desirable levels, protect beneficial organisms, and are the least harmful to humans and the environment. Plant Health Care (PHC) employs many of the aspects of IPM and is tailored for the Green Industry.

Monday, November 10                      
9:30 AM Soils ABC            
Deb Picking, University of Massachusetts
Understanding basic physical and chemical properties of soils and how proper management can improve soil health for better plant growth.

1:00 PM Woody Ornamentals: Cultural Practices and Problems AC      
Deborah Swanson, UMass Extension
Proper planting techniques and identification of common cultural problems.

1:00 PM Management Systems and Turfgrass Selection B          
Mary Owen, UMass Extension
This session will include a discussion of integrated management systems based on expectations and performance. In addition, characteristics of turfgrass types and criteria for selection of grasses for specific uses will be addressed.

Thursday, November 13                    
9:30 AM Basic Plant Pathology ABC        
Dan Gillman, UMass Extension
A discussion of the microbiology of plant disease-causing bacteria and fungi along with references to a few of the many beneficial microbes. In addition, a description of the conditions necessary for disease infection and an overview of infectious disease management strategies.

1:00 PM Basic Entomology ABC 
Robert Childs, UMass Extension
Insects are the largest known group of animals on the planet.  This lecture will highlight what characteristics define an insect, their close relatives, how they develop, the identification of major larval (immature) types, and their importance in the greater scheme of life.

Tuesday, November 18                     
9:30 AM Tree and Shrub Disease Management Strategies AC 
Dan Gillman, UMass Extension
A detailed review of the regulatory, cultural, biological, and chemical methods of plant disease management. A clear understanding of all of these methods provides a sound basis for the integration of them into an effective woody plant care program.

9:30 AM Turf Establishment B     
Mary Owen, UMass Extension
Factors essential for successful establishment of turf including soil preparation, seed and sod selection, installation and care.

1:00 PM Nutrient Management for Woody Plants AC     
Ron Kujawski, UMass Extension
Application of fertilizers alone is not always the best way to ensure good plant growth and plant health. We'll look at which nutrients are essential for plant growth, how to manage soils to create an optimal supply of those nutrients, and how to compensate for soil nutrient deficiencies through the addition of natural or synthetic sources of fertilizer.  Timing and method of fertilizer applications will also be examined.

1:00 PM Turfgrass Nutrition B     
Jason Lanier, UMass Extension
The fundamentals of turfgrass nutrition and the role of nutrients in turf management. Develop an understanding of macronutrients and micronutrients, including how they are absorbed and utilized by turfgrass plants.

Thursday, November 20                    
9:30 AM Principles of Weed Science ABC           
Randy Prostak, UMass Extension
General principles of weed science and weed identification strategies.

1:00 PM Tree and Shrub Insect Management Issues AC           
Robert Childs, UMass Extension
This lecture will highlight the basic types of injury that insects can inflict and discuss the best management practices.  Current strategies, such as the organic trend, bio-rational pesticides, how to avoid the development of pesticide resistance, and new pesticide laws that are determining our choices for pest management will be highlighted.

1:00 PM Developing a Fertility Program for Turf B       
Scott Ebdon, Univ. of Massachusetts
Strengths and weaknesses of available fertilizer technologies in developing an effective fertilizer program.

Tuesday, November 25                     
9:30 AM Plant Selection AC         
Roberta Clark, UMass Extension
Choose the right plant for the right place. An introduction to selecting sustainable woody plants for the managed landscape.

9:30 AM Turf Weed Management B        
Randy Prostak, UMass Extension
Control strategies for turf weeds including prevention, cultural practices, non-chemical/organic methods and herbicides.

1:00 PM Plant Selection, continued AC   
Deborah Swanson, UMass Extension

1:00 PM Turf Cultural Practices B
Mary Owen, UMass Extension
Cultural practices are the foundation of an integrated management system and are crucial to the successful implementation of sustainable, low input and organic management. Mowing, aerating, thatching, proper timing, and other practices will be discussed.

Monday, December 1            
9:30 AM Landscape Weed Management AC (optional for Section B)     
Randy Prostak, UMass Extension
Control strategies for landscape weeds including prevention, cultural practices, non-chemical/organic methods, and herbicides.

1:00 PM Pruning Trees and Shrubs / Introduction to CODIT AC (optional for Section B) 
H. Dennis Ryan, Univ. of Massachusetts
Proper methods of pruning trees and shrubs in residential, commercial, and municipal settings along with an introduction to CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees).

Thursday, December 4
9:30 AM Tree and Shrub Diseases AC
Dan Gillman, UMass Extension
Description of the categories of root, stem, branch, and foliage diseases of woody plants, including illustrations of the signs and symptoms of common woody plant diseases as well as suitable management approaches to use in landscapes and nurseries.

9:30 AM Diseases of Turfgrasses B
M. Bess Dicklow, UMass Extension
A brief description of the biology and identification of the most common turf diseases. Management strategies stressing the concepts of Best Management Practices (BMP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Introduction to the concepts of low-input lawns and ecological landscaping as these issues pertain to turfgrass disease management. Introduction to biorational and biological disease control materials.

1:00 PM Tree and Shrub Insect and Mite Problems  AC 
Robert Childs, UMass Extension
The diversity of woody plant material that is utilized in the landscape and nursery is extensive and diverse.  Virtually every plant has at least one insect pest that can cause harm; some plants have numerous pests. There are well over 100 different insect and mites species in the Northeast that have the potential to become problematic at any time on trees and shrubs. The major groups of these damage-causing pests, along with many of the new invasive/exotic introductions, will be covered.

1:00 PM Water Use in Turf B      
Scott Ebdon, Univ. of Massachusetts
How turf plants use water and the cultural practices that conserve water and protect the environment.

Monday, December 8            
9:30 AM Turf Management in the Landscape (optional for Section B)  A
Mary Owen, UMass Extension
Turfgrass selection, key cultural practices, and IPM for landscape and residential turf. This discussion is pertinent to all types of management systems including organic.

9:30 AM Cabling, Guying, and Lightning Systems C       
Dennis Ryan, Univ. of Massachusetts
Introduction to A-300 methods of cabling and lightning systems;  problems and liability issues will be reviewed.

1:00 PM Turf Management in the Landscape, continued A        
Mary Owen, UMass Extension

1:00 PM Construction Injury and Trees C           
Dennis Ryan, Univ. of Massachusetts
A review of the causes of construction injuries to trees and methods of  protecting trees.

Wednesday, December 10                
9:30 AM Biology and Ecology of Turf Insects  AB
Pat Vittum, Univ. of Massachusetts
Biology and identification of turfgrass damaging insects; integrated pest management, including setting tolerance levels; current status of biological control strategies; and ways to minimize reliance on insecticides.

9:30 AM Tree Risk Identification and Management C    
Brian Kane, Univ. of Massachusetts
Trees provide many benefits, functional, environmental, and aesthetic, when planted in our communities. In this way, they are important community assets. If not properly maintained, however, they can become liabilities, especially as related to breaking and causing damage. We will cover the basics of tree risk assessment, including identifying defects, managing risk, and remedial actions.

1:00 PM Horticultural Calculations ABC
Ron Kujawski, UMass Extension
A review of calculations commonly used in landscape management necessary for efficient purchase and use of fertilizers and other materials.

Thursday, December 18                    
9:30 AM Herbaceous Perennials   AB      
Deborah Swanson, UMass Extension
Culture, maintenance, and uses of perennials.

9:30 AM Arboricultural Certification and Arboricultural Safety C           
Dennis Ryan, Univ. of Massachusetts
A review of the Z-133 Arboricultural Safety Standard and the OSHA  regulations that apply to the tree care industry. Introduction to Arboricultural certification and licenses in New England and their testing requirements.

1:00 PM      Understanding Pesticides ABC 
Robert Childs, UMass Extension
Understanding the laws that govern pesticides and how we use them will be discussed along with knowing formulations of pesticide products, application equipment, and safety concerns. Reading and understanding all aspects of the pesticide label and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) will be covered in detail.  Exact details on how to obtain pesticide label information via the web will be highlighted.

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