Maine Horticulture Learning Standards

Participants in the Maine Master Gardener Volunteer, Maine Horticulture Apprenticeship and Maine Gardener programs will be able to articulate and explain: 

Foundations of Horticulture

  • The binomial system (Genus species) of plant nomenclature
  • Meaning of the terms hybrid, open-pollinated, variety and cultivar
  • Plant parts (roots, stems, buds, leaves, flowers and fruits) and their functions
  • How a plant is identified – ie. using a dichotomous key
  • Plant growth, development and differentiation
  • The processes of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration
  • Major environmental factors that influence plant growth, development and phenology (spacing, nutrients, light, day length, water, temperature)
  • The importance of biodiversity and how it supports healthy and robust ecosystems
  • The impact of invasive species on the Maine landscape
  • The impact of habitat loss and fragmentation
  • The basics of climate change and tangible efforts gardeners can make to reduce its impact on their local communities
  • Soil quality
  • Composition of soil: four components and how they impact plant growth
  • Soil texture, its impact on gardening and if it can be altered
  • Soil structure and how it can be impacted by management practices
  • How to take a soil test and interpret a soil test report
  • Why, when and how to adjust pH
  • Why, when and how to fertilize
  • Why, when and how to add organic matter
  • Cation exchange capacity, lead and organic matter
  • Best practices for purchasing soil
  • Container growing best practices
  • The basic techniques and reasons for vegetative (asexual) propagation of plants including division, layering, cuttings and grafting
  • The basic techniques and reasons for seedage (sexual) propagation of plants
  • The parts of a seed and the environmental factors necessary for germination and growing on
  • Potential seedling diseases
  • An understanding of the role that containers, growing medium and fertilization play in plant propagation
  • The processes of hardening off and transplanting seedlings
  • The basics of seed saving and storage

Food Production 

Vegetable, small fruit, and tree fruit production and maintenance

  • The critical components of a suitable site for growing fruit trees in the home landscape
  • The different species of fruit trees commonly grown in Maine and the challenges associated with growing each type
  • Strengths and weaknesses of each species in order to select fruit trees that match expectations
  • Why and when fruit trees are commonly grafted
  • The difference between dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard sized fruit trees
  • Reasons why rootstocks are used in tree fruit production
  • Basic principles and purposes for pruning different kinds of fruit trees
  • Types of pruning cuts (heading and thinning) and how plants respond
  • The critical components of a suitable site for growing small fruits
  • Fundamentals of growing strawberries; proper planting, early care, winter production and renovation strawberry beds; characteristics of recommended varieties
  • Fundamentals of growing raspberries and blackberries; proper planting, early care, trellising and pruning of brambles; characteristics of recommended varieties
  • Fundamentals of growing highbush blueberries; special soil needs, proper planting, early care and pruning; characteristics of recommended varieties
  • Why currants and gooseberries (Ribes family) are illegal to import and grow in parts of Maine
  • Fundamentals of growing other small fruits such as grapes, elderberries, etc.: proper planting, early care; characteristics of recommended varieties
  • Best practices for vegetable garden site selection 
  • Factors to consider when planning a vegetable garden
  • How to read seed packets and catalogs
  • Cool-season vs. warm-season crops
  • Crop families and specific growing information 
  • Techniques for extending the garden season
  • Basics of crop rotation 
  • Basics of weed management and familiarity with identification resources 
  • Plant water needs, how to monitor soil moisture level and water management options
  • Appropriate mulch materials for various uses, the benefits of mulch and how to calculate quantities needed for specific areas
  • Manual and mechanized tools options, selecting appropriate tools for different situations, tools maintenance and ergonomic tools
  • Paper and electronic record keeping methods
  • Basics of adaptive gardening techniques and options
  • Best practices for food safety in the home garden

Garden Pests and Diseases 

Prevention, identification, safe treatment

  • The difference between biotic and abiotic diseases
  • The living organisms that cause biotic diseases (fungal, bacterial, viral, etc)
  • The factors necessary for plant diseases to occur (the disease triangle)
  • The five essential steps for coming to a proper diagnosis:
    • Identify host plant
    • Determine abnormal symptoms and signs
    • Obtain background information and site history
    • Identify the problem or submit a plant sample
    • Create a management plan
  • How to identify disease symptoms and signs and common examples of each 
  • How to package diseased plant samples for shipment to the Pest Management Lab for diagnosis; and what information is needed for plant disease diagnostics
  • Key morphological characteristics of insects
  • Differences between juvenile and adult life stages of insects
  • Insect mouthparts and typical damage
  • Common orders of garden insects and their characteristics 
  • Common arthropod pests of Maine gardens
  • Best practices for minimizing tick exposure
  • The process for submitting insect and tick samples for identification 
  • Invasive insects and their threat to the Maine Landscape
  • The importance and methods of attracting beneficial organisms to your garden
  • The different types of pesticides and how they work
  • That the terms “natural”, “organic”, “biological”, “synthetic” do not imply how safe or toxic a product is
  • The different pesticide formulations, and which formulations pose the least risk of exposure to the user
  • How to read, understand and follow a pesticide label
  • How to assess the risks vs. the benefits of pesticide use
  • Principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • How to reduce pesticide exposure to the environment
  • How to minimize pesticide exposure to humans
  • How to properly store, secure and dispose of pesticides
  • The role of and resources offered by the Maine Board of Pesticides Control (BPC)

Maine Landscape & Designs

  • Examples of plants and plant combinations that are suitable for Maine gardens and functional in terms of promoting biodiversity
  • Recommendations of woody and herbaceous plants appropriate for different landscape conditions
  • Primary components of wildlife habitat and how to manage for them
  • The importance of biodiversity and providing habitat for wildlife
  • The importance of plant native species
  • How to read the natural landscape in order to seek inspiration and make decisions about selecting plants that mimic similar natural communities 
  • The basic steps of landscape design
  • Best practices related to the selection, planting and early care of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials 
  • Pruning woody landscape plants
  • Seasonal maintenance (mulching, deadheading, watering, fertilizing, dividing, pollinator-friendly maintenance)
  • Sustainable lawns and lawn alternatives

Professional Resources & Skills (for Maine Horticulture Apprenticeship Training participants only)

  • Types of careers in the Maine horticulture industry
  • Relevant resources and professional organizations for Maine horticulture professionals
  • Best practices for offering excellent service to customers, employers and colleagues

and demonstrate proficiency* in at least 5 of the following areas:

  • watering/irrigation
  • pest management (insects, diseases, weeds)
  • plant management (pruning, division, fertilizer application, etc.)
  • customer service
  • planting and/or seeding
  • plant selection and design
  • safe and proper use of equipment (hand tools, mowers, trimmers, tiller, etc.)
  • monitoring for plants and pests (insects, diseases, weeds)
  • educational outreach

*Proficient = can work independently without supervision to complete this task