AZ Certified Landscape Professional

Click here to download a copy of the 2012 ACLP Schedule.
Workshop Locations: Mesa, Phoenix, Tucson

What is the Arizona Certified Landscape Professional Program?

The Arizona Certified Landscape Professional (ACLP) is sponsored by the Arizona Landscape Contractors' Association.

This educational program is for those aspiring to be professional landscapers. ALCA schedules series of workshops and written & practical exams covering 10 topics designed for interaction and hands-on learning.

Plant Identification

  • Demonstrate knowledge of leaf terminology for plants, scientific names of plants and how to pronounce them.
  • Understand plants that perform well in Arizona landscapes.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in identifying plants by their leaves, flowers, and fruit.
  • Distinguish the different types of palms.
  • Compare and contrast different species within a genus.
  • Differentiate the different pine species.

Tree Planting and Staking

  • Hands-on planting demo & supervision
  • Selecting plants for quality
  • Plant Handling prior to planting
  • Preparing the plant pit
  • Setting & back filling
  • Proper staking
  • Early care maintenance

Annuals & Perennials

  • Selection, pre-planting treatment and transportation of annuals
  • Bed preparation for annuals or herbaceous perennials including soil preparation, calculating amendments or mulch needed
  • Understand the blooming season (cool or winter, hot or summer flowering plants) for common annuals or herbaceous perennials
  • Proper planting techniques
  • Pre and post irrigation techniques
  • Maintain a flower bed including irrigation, fertilization, pruning/deadheading, insect and disease control, weed control and mulching
  • Basic trouble shooting
  • Container/plastic recycling
  • Identify and correct common disease, insect and abiotic problems
  • Frost preparation

Sod Laying & Turf Identification

  • Understand the varieties of turf grasses used in the desert southwest and identify them.
  • Conduct a satisfactory sod installation using basic mechanical steps.
  • Proper mowing techniques, thatch removal, over seeding, fertilization and irrigation requirements for various turfs.
  • Problem solving strategies for common turf grass problems.

Tree Pruning

  • Understand basic tree & shrub growth structure & functions (i.e. roots, trunk, limbs, leaves, and xylem & pholoem)
  • Pruning process: purpose for pruning, time of year, understanding proper cuts & branch selection, percent of tree pruning at any one time
  • Pruning safety: climbing, ladders, and working around power lines
  • Pruning shrubs: hedging, shearing, natural pruning & rejuvenation
  • Equipment: hand saws, chain saws, pruners & climbing gear

Safety and Tools (Click on the workshop name to open the registration form)

  • Provide safety guidelines
  • Provide tools to conduct your own safety training
  • Hands-on training in demo area

Pesticides and Calibration

  • Gather health, safety and pesticide use information from product labels.
  • Mix, load, and apply pesticides so that the product is applied correctly and evenly.
  • Apply pesticides in a manner that reduces the risk of contamination to ourselves, other people, animals, and the environment.
  • Prevent, recognize, and respond to pesticide-related emergencies.
  • Properly calibrated pesticide application equipment.
  • Follow local laws and regulations regarding pesticide application, recordkeeping, and notification.

Irrigation

  • Common irrigation componenets.
  • Basic hydraulics.
  • Calculate precipitation rates.
  • Irrigation controller programming.
  • Insatallation techniques.
  • Drip irrigation.
  • Smart controllers.
  • Water management tools.

Soils & Fertilizer

  • Apply proper technique in collecting a soil sample for analysis.
  • Determine soil texture and understand how soil texture relates to irrigation management.
  • Take steps to prevent soil compaction and salt accumulation.
  • Recognize and correct plant nutrient deficiencies.
  • Understand the role of pH in plant health and plant selection.
  • Choose and apply appropriate soil amendments.
  • Describe the role of roots and plant health and the importance of soil management to optimize root health.
  • Manage caliche.

Plant Problem Diagnosis

  • Differentiate between stress disorders and biological disease in plants.
  • Discuss with clients the importance of proper plant care in plant health.
  • Understand the role of pruning and irrigation management in plant health.
  • Help clients make good plant choices for Arizona landscapes.
  • Identify common Arizona weeds and recommend appropriate control methods.
  • Recognize common insects in Arizona landscapes and determine what controls, if any, are needed.
  • Determine if a fungal, bacterial, or viral disease is present.

Why Become Certified?

The certification process increases knowledge and skills, earns greater respect, and enhances the public image of the industry. Just as importantly, certification paves the way for career advancement and added income. Successful ACLP candidates become Arizona Certified Landscape Professionals and proudly display the ACLP designation following their names as a symbol of integrity and competence. Let the Arizona Certified Landscape Professional Program provide the nourishment you need to thrive in this growing profession. To see a list of ACLP certified individuals, click here.