Earth-Wise Lawn and Landscape Care
Horticulture & Turfgrass
William Hlubik
County Agent 1, Professor
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
North Brunswick
Abstract
The Earth-Wise Lawn and Landscape Care educational program was developed to provide training for Master Gardeners and School Landscpe Maintenance Professionals in New Jersey. The 100 slide PowerPoint presentation along with self produced educational videos encourage proper selection and care of lawns and landscape plants in order to reduce unnecessary applications of pesticides and fertilizers and conserve water use in landscapes. TurningPoint is used to gather data from class participants and students are asked to sign a committment sheet to follow the practices learned in class. In 2011, a total of 486 students were trained in 9 counties. 86% of students committed to recycling grass clippings back to 83.4 acres of lawn whcih would reduce the need for 3,633 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer. 89% of students reported changes in irrigation that would reduce over 18 million gallons of water use in landscapes.
Authors: Hlubik, W. T.
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Hlubik, W. T. County Agent 1, Professor, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey, 08902