Basics of Plant Material for Landscape Use

This flagship course has been reformatted and revised for 2009 with a new schedule and new distance learning tools to make this a 24/7 learning experience. Even with the new technology, it is instructor Steve Kristoph’s passion for plants that has made this Rutger’s longest running and most popular course. “No one knows their plants like Steve, or loves them like him. You can’t help but love this, too,” wrote one student.

And Steve is teaching two of the most important skills any landscape contractor, grounds manager or plant lover should master
•  the ability to identify landscape plants on the properties         you manage
•  expanding your palette of plants to select the right plant  
   for the right site and the right purpose

To master those skills, you will be an active learner with plant identification walks twice each day, and with follow-up assignments delivered through distance learning. Steve has teamed with course founder, Dr. Bruce “Doc” Hamilton, a living legend among Rutger’s professors, and a group of dedicated field instructors to ensure every student literally feels the joy of plant identification in the field. “You have to see the plant in its place to understand where it fits in the environment, or where it doesn’t fit, which is just as important. You can’t get that by showing a twig in a bottle in the classroom,” explains Doc about why so many past students love this class’ mid-winter plant ID. You also can’t get that by looking at pictures on the web.

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Should You Take This Course?

Whether landscape is your hobby or your livelihood, this course is designed just for you! We guarantee that even if you’ve “been in the business” for years, you will walk away with information to increase job productivity.  Here’s an example of some of the types of people who have taken this course in the past:

• Agricultural Technician
• Farm Technician
• Garden Designer
• Homeowner
• Horticultural Enthusiast
• Landscape Architect
• Landscape Contractor
• Landscape Designer
• Landscape Manager/Foreman
• Landscape Superintendent
• Landscape Professional
• Master Gardener
• Nursery Professional
• Property Manager
• Turf Manager/Superintendent
• Garden Designer

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Our Faculty

Dr. Bruce “Doc” Hamilton
With over 40 years if experience enthusiastically teaching both undergraduates and professionals, Doc's instructional style has been proven to be one of the best.

Steve Kristoph
Steve has been a commercial nursery owner for 20 years and is widely known for his encyclopedic knowledge of plant material and passion for the subject.

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Continuing Education Credits Approved

CPWM Credits:
coming soon...

View a complete list of all landscape credits available for all courses offered

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How Past Participants Rated the Course & Instructors (2005-2006)

Ratings of the Course:
(tally of responses received)

Ratings of the Instructors:
(tally of responses received)

Responses to this question:
Would you Recommend this Program to an Associate?

What Participants Said About the Course:

“Knowledge of all subject matter was outstanding! The instructors provided interest to all plants! I would recommend to other landscapers.”

“I really enjoyed the classes. Everyone took it very seriously and the stress level was high, especially at test time. But I am amazed at how much I’ve learned. It will be put to good use.”

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Testimonials

“Going back to school was not something I wanted to do, but I really enjoyed the class--the activites, the slides, the field work…I’m the owner of Complete Lawn Care, and as many years as I was [in the landscaping business], I definitely got a lot out of Basics of Plant Materials for Landscape Use. The terminology and plant dynamics helped a lot for people (like me) who just need to get a little more involved and customer-based. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to landscape as a career.”

Peter Yotka, Owner
Complete Lawn Care

“I’m glad that I took Basics of Plant Material for Landscape Use.. I work on all the street trees in my town and answer requests, so identifying a tree before looking at the problem is important to know. In the end, it expanded what I do more than the time it took to take the class. It’s definitely a class anyone that’s doing any kind of tree work should take.”

Liz Stewart
River Edge Shade Tree Commission

“I’ve been in the landscape business for 20 years. But before taking Basics of Plant Materials for Landscape Use, I might have used a plant in front a house. Now, I might never again use that plant there again because I know how it’s going to grow and how to maintain it properly. So, knowing what a plant should be doing and how it grows, not just learning the plant terminology and identification, really helped me in assessing properties. So, if you’re serious about plants in the business, these are the courses to have.”

Michael Perrone, President
General Lawn & Landscape

“As a master gardener in the state department, I try to help out whenever somebody has questions. Basics of Plant Materials for Landscape Use definitely helped broaden my range of what would be useful in a particular site, what wouldn’t …and it helped with tree identification…So, I’m a lot more comfortable now. I really enjoyed the class; the professors, the people--because we all were there for the same reason…. You’re there to learn, and that’s what we did…I was impressed.”

Margot Pohl
Bergen County Shade Tree Commission

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