Increased knowledge of new or under-utilized plant species/cultivars and how to select plants for a specific location
- A new tree, shrub, flower, fruit, vegetable that they have not grown before
- The need to increase plant diversity
- How to determine the best plant for an area
- How to test for soil drainage
- Microclimates
- Plants that grow in shade
- Plants that grow in sun
- Plants that tolerate poor drainage
- Plants that are drought tolerant
- Plants that are insect or disease prone
- Plants that are insect or disease tolerant
- Planting for seasonal color
- The best type of lawn grass for their area
- Recommended fruit cultivars
- Recommended vegetable cultivars
- The need for proper spacing between plants
Increased knowledge of appropriate watering practices and water conservation methods
- How soil type affect water availability to plants
- Soil compaction (causes of, results of)
- Digging a wide hole to plant a tree or shrub
- Planting (trees, shrubs, fruit, lawn) in the fall to reduce water needs
- How fertilizer affects water needs
- What happens to runoff water
- Best time to water
- New methods to water
- Methods to reduce water needs
- How to aerate the lawn
- Benefits of mulching plants
- How to capture rain water for plant usage
- How to recycle household water for plant use
- Improving water retention by incorporating organic matter
- How to measure the amount of water applied from a sprinkler
- Drought tolerant plants
- Correct mowing height for their type of lawn grass
- Need for a sharp lawn mower blade
- How to allow a cool-season lawn to go semi-dormant in the summer
Increased knowledge of plant fertilization needs and methods of application
- Effects of pH on soil nutrient availability
- How to take a soil test
- How to interpret a soil test report
- How to read a fertilizer label
- Natural (organic) fertilizers
- How to reduce fertilizer needs
- Slow release fertilizers
- Where excess fertilizers go
- The best time to fertilize (lawn, trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables)
- How phosphorus affects root growth /disease development
- Effect of excessive nitrogen on plant growth/diseases
- Where plant roots are located
- Leaving grass clipping on the lawn
- Soil types
- Guidelines to determine how much fertilizer to apply
- How a plant's age/maturity affects fertilizer needs
- Reasons a plant may not be growing well
Increased knowledge of the prevention and management of pest problems (weeds, insects, diseases, wildlife) through nonchemical methods and/or correct methods for pesticide application.
- What IPM is
- How to select plants for site conditions
- How to read a pesticide label
- How to store pesticides
- How to calibrate a fertilizer spreader
- How to encourage beneficial insects
- How to recognize beneficial insects
- How to use an insect trap
- That a bug zapper light also kills benefical insects
- Where and how to dispose of unused pesticide spray mixtures
- How to prevent killing beneficial insects
- How to purchase a healthy plant
- How to read a lawn seed label
- How to select a herbicide
- How to control: moles, voles, rabbits, birds
- Plants resistant to deer
- Best time/method to apply a pesticide
- How to attract bees, butterflies, birds
- Cultural method to control/reduce insect problems
- An insect life cycle
- A disease life cycle
- Best time to plant flowers/vegetables to reduce pest problems
- Best time and method to prune trees/shrubs
- Identification of insect eggs
- How/where insects overwinter
- Effect of mowing the lawn when the foliage is wet
- Effect of walking through vegetable garden when the foliage is wet
- Effect of incorrectly pruning of shade trees
- Effect of pruning/not pruning fruit trees/vines on insect and disease control
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers that are less likely to develop pest problems
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers that are more likely to develop pest problems
- Mowed/controlled weeds near vegetable border
- Plants to attract/encourage beneficial insects
- How to prevent lawn diseases
- How to prune a fruit (tree, vine, bush)
- Crop rotation
- Soil solarization
- Fall clean-up of plant debris
- Importance of air circulation/sunlight on disease prevention
Number adopting cultural methods that reduce/recycle yard waste
- Started or increased composting
- Used leaves to mulch garden paths
- Used the right size plant for the location (less pruning)
- Left grass clippings on lawn
- Applied fertilizer based on soil test report
- Applied fertilizer based on amount of plant growth
- Used a chipper/shredder to recycle pruning material
- Used grass clippings, pruning material as mulch or in natural area
- Purchased composted yard waste
- Use of mulch at base of tree to prevent lawn mower/weed eater damage
- Selected shade tree with a straight central leader
- Used the three cut method to prune large limbs
- Made pruning cuts outside the branch bark color
- Trained young fruit trees
- Decided not to top/dehorn their shade trees
- Reduced fertilizer for trees/shrubs receiving fertilizer from the lawn area
- Recycled leaves/limbs into the natural area
