Introduction Copy

Learning objectives
1. Articulate the benefits of using a certified native plant maintenance professional
2. Understand what a four-year garden and beyond time frame looks like
Discussion: Value of certification
1. Job qualification
2. Job advancement
3. Marketing
4. Bigger picture
5. How to use your certification
6. Program benefits
7. Financial aspects
Discussion: Life of a garden (a hypothetical example)
1. Overview of content through four years’ garden maintenance, stressing practical application of knowledge
  1. Year 1: Weekly to semi-monthly visits of 1-2 hours to weed, water, prune, adjust sprinkler heads, sow wildflowers, stake, create a plant list, mulch
    1. Schedule dependent on clients and size of garden
  2. Year 2: Monthly to semimonthly visits of 3-4 hours visits to prune, cut grasses, adjust sprinkler heads, weed, stake, water, replant
  3. Year 3: Monthly to semimonthly visits of 3-4 hours to mulch, prune, pull overgrown plants, replant, adjust sprinkler heads, water, weed
  4. Year 4: Monthly to semimonthly visits of 3-4 hours to prune, monitor, weed, replant, adjust sprinkler heads, apply to be on Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour!
2. An important note throughout this curriculum is that all gardens are different and require individualized management, planning, and care
In-class activity: Hypothetical garden: what would you potentially do each year in this garden?
Homework
1. Take three pictures of native plants and upload them in the Assignment section below before the next class. Allowed file types are pdf, doc, jpg, or png.
Resources
1. Planting demonstrating:
  Watch Video: Planting California Natives: Preparing and Planting
  1. Alternatively go to the Theodore Payne YouTube Channel for several videos on initial analysis of garden site conditions and planting technique
Key figures, graphs, and concepts
1. This certificate program:
  1. Is the only program that has an exclusive focus on California native plants
  2. Meets the practical, real-world oriented needs of gardeners to learn specialized techniques – you build on your existing skills and knowledge
  3. Improves the marketability of certified gardeners
  4. Makes your resume stand out
  5. Provides customers and vendors with validation that you have demonstrated experience, knowledge and skills in the complex specialty of native plants
  6. Is backed by TPF and CNPS – the two most respected names in native plant gardening
2. How you use your Certificate
  1. Confirm that your business cards, publications, conference brochures and social media profiles show your current certification status.
  2. Identify yourself as having obtained a certificate on your name badge and when talking with customers, vendors, colleagues, and other professionals
  3. Include a reference to your successful completion of the certificate program by applying the program logo in all customer proposals
  4. Place your certificate in your vehicle in a clear sleeve and show it at initial meetings with potential clients
  5. Logo your vehicle with the program logo decals
  6. Plan how to increase visibility with your new certificate
3. Planting in seasons other than fall
  1. Water early in the day and in compliance with local watering restrictions
  2. Add temporary shade as necessary – shade cloth, cloches
  3. Provide deep and infrequent watering – see the lesson on watering
  4. Evaluate signs of wilting closely – for each hydrozone or valve

Theodore Payne Education

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