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What
is River-Friendly Landscaping?
"River-Friendly" offers a holistic approach to landscaping that works
with nature to reduce waste, prevent pollution and support the integrity
of one of California's key ecosystems, the Sacramento River watershed.
Why should I hire a Green Gardener Trained
Professional?
A Green Gardener Trained professional has attended a ten-week intensive
professional training. Green Gardener Training focuses on conserving water,
protecting the soil and reducing the use of pesticides.
The curriculum covers the following topics:
- River Friendly Principles - An intensive introduction to the 7 principals
of River-Friendly Landscaping.
- Soil Health - This covers soil composition, soil fertility, and a
review of tools and methods to evaluate and improve soil health.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - This focuses on pest management
approaches that reduce risk to the environment, including monitoring
of physical, cultural, biological and less toxic chemical controls.
- Right Plant, Right Place - Selecting the right water conserving plants
for our local climate and the size of each customer's landscape.
- Fertilizers - This covers plant nutrition requirements, fertilizer
ingredients and money savings through "grass cycling."
- Irrigation I - This focuses on coordination of soil needs and plant
requirements.
- Irrigation II - Trouble shooting the entire landscape irrigation
system.
- Irrigation III - Covers assessment of system and repairs.
- Pruning for Plant Health - Covers plant anatomy, pruning styles
and techniques. Overall long-term plant health is the focus of this
session.
- Mulches and Compost - Focuses on the various methods of composting
at the work site and how to apply compost in the landscape.
Qualified Green Gardener Business Referral List
Disclaimer of Endorsement and Responsibility: The listing
herein of contractors is for purposes of information and reference
only and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of or recommendation
by the Regional Water Authority or its member agencies of any such
contractors. At the time of publication, all listed contractors were
licensed and in good standing with the California Contractors State
License Board. The fact that another contractor is not listed herein
does not imply any opinion or judgment by RWA or its member agencies
concerning the qualifications or competency of any such unlisted contractor.
The information on this list is accurate only as of the date it was
prepared, and after the date of publication, RWA and its member agencies
disclaim any responsibility to monitor and update the list or the
current licensing or legal status of any listed contractor. Any person
using this list does so at his or her own risk and is solely responsible
to conduct his or her own inquiries in order to determine the licensing
status, qualifications and competency of any contractor hired. RWA
and its member agencies reserve the right without any liability to
withdraw this list, or to add or delete contractors from this list
at any time.
Choosing
a Landscape Professional
Don't be afraid to ask a few questions to help glean more information:
- Are they licensed and insured for the jobs they do? Some licensing
or certification programs include:
- Contractors State License Board
- Licensing and Certification Program, Department of Pesticide Regulation
(Certified Pest Applicator)
- California Landscape Architects Technical Committee
- California Architects Board
- International Society of Arboriculture Certification
- Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control
- Are they affiliated with any professional associations?
- American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
- Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD)
- California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA)
- Ecological Landscape Association (ELA)
- Pesticide Applicators Professional Association (PAPA)
- American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA)
- Irrigation Association (IA)
- Can they provide references,
especially for comparably scaled designs or sites?
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