- Desert Landscaper Certification is a one-year program consisting of three sessions (Fall, Winter, Spring)
- Each session has ten classes
- Students attend one class per week, either Tues., Weds., Fri., or Sat.
- Each class is four hours long, from 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Classes are offered in both English and Spanish.
- There is a Saturday class from 1–5 p.m. that is taught in Spanish, all others are taught in English.
Session I - Fall 2009
Week of:
- September 7 - Orientation and Desert Environment
- September 14 - Botany
- September 21 - Soils and Fertilizers
- September 28 - Trees
- October 5 - Planting and Staking
- October 12 - FALL BREAK - PLANT SALE
- October 19 - Pruning Principles
- October 26 - Pruning Practice
- November 2 - Agaves and Yuccas
- November 9 - Wildflowers, Perennials, Vines & Groundcovers
- November 16 - Final Exam / Lecture-Working around Utilities
- November 23 - THANKSGIVING BREAK
Session II - Winter 2009 / 2010
Week of:
- November 30 - Insects, Diseases and Pesticide Safety
- December 7 - Integrated Pest Management
- December 14 - Shrubs
- December 21 - TWO WEEK HOLIDAY BREAK
- December 28 - TWO WEEK HOLIDAY BREAK
- January 4 - Native Landscaping / Shrub Pruning Practice
- January 11 - Cacti
- January 18 - Irrigation Methods and Materials
- January 25 - Irrigation Practice
- February 1 - Succulents / Programming Irrigation Controllers
- February 8 - Water Harvesting
- February 15 - Final Exam / Lecture -Bidding & Licensing
Session III - Spring 2010
Week of:
- February 22 - Landscape Design
- March 1 - Landscape Design/Client Interview
- March 8 - Landscape Design
- March 15 - SPRING BREAK - PLANT SALE
- March 22 - Landscape Design / Design Project Presentations
- March 29 - Advanced / Additional Irrigation
- April 5 - Landscape Installation -Grading, boulders, swales
- April 12 - Landscape Installation -valves, backflow, main lines, box trees
- April 19 - Landscape Installation -planting, 1/4" line & emitters
- April 26 - Landscape Installation -granite
- May 3 - Final Exam
