Maricopa County Course Offerings
Learn more about Maricopa County Smartscape courses.
Smartscape
The next course begins July 11, 2023.
Smartscape consists of eight classes plus an exam session and a Resources & Marketing session.
Smartscape is a training program specifically designed for landscape and irrigation industry professionals such as: installation and maintenance supervisors and crew members (as well as company owners and office staff involved in scheduling field staff or contracting), landscape architects and designers, nursery employees, and municipal employees (Parks & Rec, Water). We also encourage HOA committee members and property management personnel to attend. Smartscape is held twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.
Smartscape is a comprehensive, research‐based program that prepares students with essential skills for the basic design, installation, and maintenance of attractive, water-efficient landscapes that offer a unique sense of place and value to our communities. Smartscape delivers 20 hours of high-quality education on the best irrigation and horticultural practices appropriate for the Sonoran Desert environment. For $95, students receive a Smartscape manual and Smartscape Study Guide with valuable information and materials, instruction from experts in the green industry, and the opportunity to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator, and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) continuing education units, and Arizona chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (AzASLA) continuing education credits. Graduates of the course receive a certificate of completion from the University of Arizona and a chance to market themselves as a Smartscape professional by listing their contact information in the Smartscape Online Directory.
Completion of the Smartscape course is required for any Advanced courses.
Advanced Smartscape: Irrigation
The next course begins April 6, 2023.
The Advanced Smartscape: Irrigation course consists of three classes: Irrigation Design, Irrigation Installation and Maintenance, and Irrigation Management.
Completion of the Smartscape course is required.
Advanced Smartscape: Irrigation builds upon the Smartscape course experience with 18 hours of rigorous, in-depth technical training for landscape professionals on the design, installation, and maintenance of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems specific to the Sonoran Desert. The course stresses irrigation efficiency and responsible water use in turf and desert landscapes.
After completing the three-class course, students will be able to more efficiently irrigate properties with systems they design, install, and maintain by implementing the techniques and strategies taught in Advanced Smartscape.
Advanced Smartscape: Irrigation delivers high-quality education from experts in the green industry and hands-on activities, including: an irrigation audit, new technologies demonstration, smart controller programming, and friction loss calculations.
Presentations will be made using the latest research-based information regarding sustainable landscaping practices. In a tough economy, such training is invaluable to landscaping businesses as competition for customers remains high. Students will receive an Advanced Smartscape training manual and have the opportunity to earn Irrigation Association (IA) and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) continuing education units (CEUs).
Advanced Smartscape: Plant Materials
The next course begins October 25, 2023.
The Advanced Smartscape: Plant Materials course consists of four classes.
Completion of the Smartscape course is required.
The Advanced Smartscape: Plant Materials training builds upon the Smartscape course experience with 12 hours of in-depth training for landscape professionals on plant materials best suited for water-efficient landscapes in our desert environment.
After completing the four-class course, students will be able to effectively integrate a wide selection of regionally appropriate plants into landscape designs and provide proper maintenance by implementing the knowledge gained in Advanced Smartscape.
Students will receive an Advanced Smartscape training notebook and the opportunity to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) continuing education.
Graduates of the course receive a certificate of completion from the University of Arizona and the opportunity to market themselves as Smartscape Trained Professionals by being listed in the Smartscape Online Directory.
Advanced Smartscape: Urban Forest Management
The next course begins January, 2024.
The Advanced Smartscape: Urban Forest Management course consists of four classes.
Completion of the Smartscape course is required.
The Advanced Smartscape: Urban Forest Management training builds upon the Smartscape course experience with 12 hours of in-depth training for landscape professionals on the selection, installation, and aspects of maintenance of trees and large shrubs. The course stresses proper pruning and irrigation efficiency of trees in urban landscapes.
After completing the four-class course, students will be able to effectively manage urban forest settings by implementing the knowledge gained in Advanced Smartscape.
Students will receive an Advanced Smartscape training notebook and the opportunity to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) continuing education CEUs.
Graduates of the course receive a certificate of completion from the University of Arizona and the opportunity to market themselves as Smartscape Trained Professionals by being listed in the Smartscape Online Directory.
Smartscape en Español
The next course begins May 2, 2023
Smartscape en Español consists of eight classes plus an exam session and a Resources & Marketing session. Smartscape en Español is a training program specifically designed for landscape and irrigation industry professionals such as: installation and maintenance supervisors and crew members (as well as company owners and office staff involved in scheduling field staff or contracting), landscape architects and designers, nursery employees, and municipal employees (Parks & Rec, Water). We also encourage HOA committee members and property management personnel to attend. Smartscape is held twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.
Smartscape en Español is a comprehensive, research‐based program that prepares students with essential skills for the basic design, installation, and maintenance of attractive, water-efficient landscapes that offer a unique sense of place and value to our communities. Smartscape delivers 20 hours of high-quality education on the best irrigation and horticultural practices appropriate for the Sonoran Desert environment. For $95, students receive a Smartscape manual and other valuable information and materials, instruction from experts in the green industry, and the opportunity to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator, and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) continuing education units. Graduates of the course receive a certificate of completion from the University of Arizona and a chance to market themselves as a Smartscape professional by listing their contact information in the Smartscape Online Directory.
Completion of the Smartscape course is required for any Advanced courses.
Clases Avanzadas de Smartscape: Selección de Plantas
The next course begins January 10, 2023
The Clases Avanzadas de Smartscape: Selección de Plantas (Advanced Smartscape: Plant Materials) course consists of four classes.
Completion of the Smartscape course is required.
The Clases Avanzadas de Smartscape: Selección de Plantas training builds upon the Smartscape en Español course experience with 12 hours of in-depth training for landscape professionals on plant materials best suited for water-efficient landscapes in our desert environment.
After completing the four-class course, students will be able to effectively integrate a wide selection of regionally appropriate plants into landscape designs and provide proper maintenance by implementing the knowledge gained in Advanced Smartscape.
Students will receive an Advanced Smartscape training manual and the opportunity to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) continuing education.
