Certificate Course: Introduction to Plant ID & Landscape Maintenance

Dates and Times: July 8 – August 5, 2026; Wednesday evenings, 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: NHTI Campus, 31 College, Drive, Concord, NH.  Sweeney Hall, Room 311, with outdoor hands-on sessions on the grounds of NHTI and off-site locations.

Cost: $350

Register today!

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of landscape management. Over five weeks, participants will learn essential concepts including plant care, soil health, turf management, and plant identification, while gaining an understanding of how environmental and site conditions influence maintenance decisions. Each class will include hands-on learning to build practical skills in the areas covered. The program also emphasizes workplace professionalism, including effective client and team communication. The course concludes with a comprehensive property evaluation and assessment to identify landscape management practices that support healthy, functional, and well-maintained outdoor spaces.

This class does not take the place of the NH Certified Landscape Professional certification, but provides an introduction to several of the topics covered more in depth in the NHCLP program.

Course Outline:

Week 1 – July 8, 2026

• Components of a landscape
• Types of maintenance tasks
• Seasonality and service frequency
• Crew structure and daily operations
• Tools, personal gear, and site awareness

Week 2 – July 15

• Planting and Soils
• Plant anatomy
• Planting basics and best practices
• Conditions that affect planting
• Basic plant nutrition and amendments

Week 3 – July 22

• Turf establishment and maintenance

Week 4 – July 29

• Plant classification and identification
• Common plants
• Pruning, deadheading, and dividing

Week 5 – August 5

• Client interaction and communication
• Crew roles and escalation
• Site assessment fundamentals
• Regulatory awareness

Instructors:

• John Lahey, Stephens Landscaping Professionals
• Amy Papineau, UNH Extension Landscape Horticulture Field Specialist
• Mac McPhail, United Ag & Turf Northeast
• Abby Zuidema, NHCLP Coordinator, Mosaic Plant Design
• Andrew Morse, Belknap Landscape Co. Inc