Foundations of Organic Gardening

This unit introduces core principles and hands-on practices of organic ornamental gardening, including basic techniques, the rationale for organic methods, landscape planning, and soil health fundamentals. It establishes foundational skills in soil assessment, amendment selection, and organic fertility that prepare students for advanced topics in pest management, plant propagation, and sustainable landscape installation in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze site conditions (sun, slope, drainage, microclimates) and project goals to produce a scaled organic landscape plan that integrates appropriate plant selection and water-use considerations
• Apply basic organic gardening techniques—proper planting, mulching, water-conserving irrigation, composting, and crop/resident plant management—following industry-recommended procedures and safety protocols
• Demonstrate soil assessment and management by conducting basic soil tests for texture, structure, and pH, interpreting results, and implementing amendment and cultivation practices to build healthy soil
• Evaluate organic fertilizer and amendment options by comparing nutrient profiles, calculating application rates and timing, and selecting appropriate materials for common ornamental plant needs