Sustainable Landscaping Practices Class

Course Description: Learn how to efficiently and effectively landscape your home with sustainable landscape practices that save valuable resources. Explore basic principles of design and planning, drought and heat-tolerant landscape plants, basic irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting, simple rain gardens and low-maintenance to save water, money, time and pollution.

Course Objectives

1.  Design and plan your landscape and learn how sun, soil and water effect the long term survivability of your landscape.  We will work on student’s landscape plans 4 out of 5 classes.  You will learn more by doing your own plan and watching others who have the same questions and problems.  Bring your plans and questions to each class and be ready to show the class your plans, ideas and pictures during the last part of class.  Be open to suggestions and willing to share your plans.

2  What are the different irrigation systems and which are most efficient?  Learn the basics of rainwater harvesting and rain gardens.  See 4 examples of rain barrels.

3.  Learn which plants do well in North Texas home landscapes, where to shop for natives, how to pick healthy plants and the difference between annuals and perennials.

4.  Learn how to install your landscape and how it affects maintenance.  Learn basic installation methods for installing plants and landscape materials such as soil, mulch, and hardscapes.

5.  Low-maintenance principals, learn what they mean and how the methods add value by decreasing the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and why it is important for our water and air quality.

Lesson Plan 

Session 1:  30 minutes for paperwork, introductions, and an overview of the class; 30 minutes for lesson on designing your landscape; 10 minute break; 30 minutes more design/plan and the last 20 minutes to share what your landscaping needs are - do you need help getting started on your plan? 

Homework assignment: bring pictures of your landscape and the beginning of a plan for an area you want to work on in class.

Session 2: 30 minutes on irrigation systems; 30 on rain gardens;10 break; 20 minutes on rain barrels and 30 minutes on student’s plans (based on a first come, first served basis).

Session 3: 20 minutes on the difference between annual and perennials; 30 minutes on native and well-adapted plants for North Texas; 10 minute break; 30 minutes for more plants; 30 minutes on student’s plans.

Session 4: 50 minutes on installing your landscape from the ground-up by taking out the lawn and bringing in good soil, then shopping and buying plants and materials; 10 minute break; 20 on calculating quantities of soil and mulch; 40 minutes on student’s plans.

Session 5: 50 minutes on lPM (Integrated Pest Management); 10 minute break and 50 minutes on student’s plans.