SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 11:12:29 PMHORT 82 Course Outline as of Spring 2004

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  HORT 82Title:  INTRO TO ARBORICULTURE  
Full Title:  Introduction to Arboriculture
Last Reviewed:3/7/2011

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled017.5 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 97

Catalog Description:
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Ecological approaches to the selection, planting, establishment and maintenance of trees and woody plants in the landscape. Includes sections on tree structure and function, environmental factors affecting plant growth, basic soil science, managing nutritional needs, water management, pruning for structural development and safety, current pruning standards, hazard tree assessment and risk management, diagnosing pest problems and health care management emphasizing non-pesticide methods, and basic concepts of tree appraisal. Field lectures on the SRJC campus and other locations are also included.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of HORT 50.1 ( or AG 90) OR Course Completion of AGRI 20 ( or AG 51) OR Course Completion of BOTANY 10


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Ecological approaches to the selection, planting, establishment, and maintenance of trees and woody plants in the landscape. Field lectures on the SRJC campus and other locations are included.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:Course Completion of HORT 50.1 ( or AG 90) OR Course Completion of AGRI 20 ( or AG 51) OR Course Completion of BOTANY 10
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1989Inactive:Spring 2016
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Select quality trees and other woody plants for optimum performance in
the landscape.
2. Evaluate the planting site to determine how plants will respond and/or
how to mitigate site conditions.
3. Prepare a site to improve plant performance and ease of maintenance.
4. Recommend proper use of staking or guying for newly planted trees.
5. Compare and contrast planting and transplanting methods for a variety
of trees and shrubs.
6. Determine nutrient needs and toxicity problems for woody plants and
recommend treatment to correct nutrient deficiencies.
7. Evaluate factors that affect water use by plants and determine minimum
water needs and methods of applying water.
8. Manage soil conditions for favorable plant growth.
9. Describe basic concepts of pruning and current pruning standards.
10. Evaluate tree structure and response to pruning.
11. Describe the role of growth regulating hormones in maintaining a
favorable root to shoot ratio.
12. Determine which plant growth 'stimulants' and soil applied amendments
work and which do not.
13. Evaluate environmental and biological factors that increase
susceptibility to insect and disease pests and influence tree failure.
14. Describe structural defects that increase hazard tree potential.
15. Discuss the methodology and current technology for assessing and
mitigating tree hazard potential.
16. Decide on best management practices for maintaining landscape trees
and plants.
17. Summarize concepts of fire-safe landscaping.

Topics and Scope
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I.  Introduction to arboriculture
 A. Definition
 B. Benefits
  1. Improved health
  2. Safety
  3. Longevity
  4. Aesthetics
  5. Reduces maintenance costs
II. Role of trees in the environment
  A. Sociological
  B. Psychological and human health
  C. Environmental Benefits
III. Plants
  A. Tree structure and function
  B. Plant distribution and ecology
  C. Plant selection
    1. Assessing environmental conditions
    2. Types of plant material
    3. Selecting quality plant material
    4. Planting specifications
IV. Planting Site
 A. Climate
 B. Soil
 C. Slope
 D. Aspect
 E. Topography
 F. Existing plants
 G. Site preparation
V. Planting and Transplanting
 A. Container grown
 B. Balled and burlap
 C. Bare root
 D. Boxed specimens
 E. Moving large trees
 F. Special planting situations
 G. Training, staking and support methods
VI. Nutrient Management
 A. Relationship among soil characteristics
 B. Roots, mineral elements, and plant physiology
 C. Soil analysis
 D. Role of soil microorganisms
    1. Roots
    2. Micorrhizae
 E. Nutrition and soil tilth
 F. Importance of organic matter
 G. Importance of mulching
VII. Soil and Soil Management
 A. Mitigating compacted soil
 B. Mulching and vertical mulching
 C. Bare soil
 D. Use of the 'tree spade'
 E. Soil needle
VIII. Water Management
 A. Estimating minimal water needs
 B. Soil characteristics and water availability
 C. Application methods
 D. Salinity and reclaimed water
 E. Improving soil conditions to increase water availability
   1. Antitranspirants
   2. Wetting agents
   3. Hydrogels
   4. Soil conditioners
IX. Plant competition
 A. Turf and other ground covers
 B. Allelopathy
X. Pruning
 A. General concepts
 B. Response and negative impacts
 C. Destructive pruning practices
 D. Current standards
 E. Types of pruning
XI. Chemical Control of Plants
 A. To manage plant growth
 B. Root initiation
 C. Shorten shoot growth
 D. Manage sprouting
 E. Herbicides
 F. Manage invasive roots in sewer pipes
XII. Hazard tree management
 A. Ecological and environmental factors that increase potential for
failure
  1. Root disease
  2. Heart rots
  3. Saprots
  4. Structural defects
XIII. Mitigating hazard potential
 A. Removal
 B. Cabling
 C. Bracing
 D. Propping
 E. Crown reduction
XIV. Diagnosing Plant Problems
 A. Abiotic factors
 B. Biotic factors
   1. Insects
   2. Diseases
XV. Common diseases and insect pests
 A. Common diseases
   1.Leaf
   2. Root
   3. Decay causing pathogens
   4. Cankers
   5. Canker-rots
  B. Common causes
   1. Fungi
   2. Bacteria
   3. Mistletoe
 C. Common insect pests
   1. Sap feeders
   2. Defoliators
   3. Bark beetles and borers
   4. Gall-formers
 D. Review of the common tree's pests
   1. Oaks
   2. Pines
XVI. Integrated pest management
 A. Tree-health based practices to improve natural pest resistance
   1. Minimize stress
   2. Encourage normal growth
 B. Review of pest management methods
XVII. Best management practices for maintaining landscape trees and plants
XVIII. Concepts of fire-safe landscaping

Assignments:
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May include:
1. 3-5 page research paper on a topic related to hazard tree management or
maintenance problems and their treatment.
2. 20-30 pages of reading in assigned text/week.
3. Worksheets related to plant selection, site preparation, pruning, and
diagnosing plant problems.
4. Quizzes, mid-term, and final exam.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
20 - 30%
Written homework, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
30 - 40%
wrkshts: plant select; site prep; pruning; diag.
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
20 - 40%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion, Short answer.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 10%
Attendance and participation.


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Harris, Richard W., Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Landscape
Trees, Shrubs, and Vines. 3rd ed. Prentice Hall, Inc. 1999.
Hartman, J., Pirone, T. Pirone's Tree Maintenance, 7th ed. Prentice Hall,
2000.

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