New Castle County Master Gardeners @ Home ...
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New Castle County Master Gardeners @ Home Horticulture Visit Guidelines for Administration, Site Visits and Reporting TABLE OF CONTENTS MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Administration and Site Visit Guidelines
For Extension Horticultural Agent MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Administration Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission Form For MG Home Horticulture Advice Committee Chairperson(s) MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Administration
For MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Team Leader MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Preparation MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Procedures Collect Donation Report Equal Opportunity Information Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission Form For MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Team Members MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Site Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines
Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission Form
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MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT ADMINISTRATION Extension Horticultural Agent MG Home Horticulture Advice Committee Chairperson(s)
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APPLICATIONS available at the Master Gardener web site Horticultural Agent Receives and reviews applications for eligibility to participate. Forwards applications to HHA chairperson(s). Reviews and approves all written reports requested by clients.
INITIAL CLIENT CONTACT Chairperson(s) Review priorities and landscape details with the client by phone. Establish dates and times client is available for site visit. Include a weekend and evening whenever possible.
SITE VISIT TEAM RECRUITMENT Chairperson(s) Send electronic invitation to HHA Committee members to participate in site visit. Provide dates, times, general location and description of client’s priorities, experience, including any landscape and horticultural details. From Committee members’ availability responses select a site visit team of no fewer than two and no more than four members. Recruit a team leader from among the selected team members. Send email to the site visit team confirming their selection giving client name, address, site visit date and name of the team leader. Send email to the remaining site team volunteers indicating that the site team has been formed so that they can clear their calendars. Send email to team leader to confirm their appointment; provide the client phone number and email address (if available) and client accession number. MAINTAIN HHA ACTIVITY LOG & REPORT TO HORTICULTURAL AGENT ANNUALLY Chairperson(s) Assign and enter client accession number, demographics, and dates of application, site team recruitment, site visit, and report (if requested) sent to client. Enter site visit revenue and date submitted to Treasurer. Enter Equal Opportunity information in the Activity Log. Provide the Activity Log and participations summaries to the Horticultural Agent annually. QUARTERLY REPORT TO MG TREASURER Chairperson(s) Send a quarterly report to the MG Treasurer providing client accession numbers, client names and amounts of donations.
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Team Leader
MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT PREPARATION
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FOLLOW-UP CONTACT WITH CLIENT Contact client to introduce him/herself and confirm the site visit date and time. Also confirm the client’s priorities, and tell the client what to expect from the visit including the format of the written report if one was requested. FOLLOW-UP CONTACT WITH TEAM MEMBERS Contact team members to confirm site visit date, address. Arrange to meet at the property 15 minutes prior to the visit start time to discuss approach and to review the MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist (See Appendix A page 6). Arrange for a camera to take photographs of the property.
PREPARE A SITE VISIT BASIC INFORMATION FOLDER FOR THE CLIENT The folder should contain Current MG “Workshops for the Home Gardener” Soil Test Kit (available from the Extension Office) “Need an Expert Eye?” advertising card MG Business Card A List of Useful Websites on Various Topics “A Glossary of Good Gardening Practices” The one-page Delaware Master Gardeners info sheet Livable Plants for the Home Landscape” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/lowres18spreads.pdf “Plants for a Livable Delaware” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/PLD.pdf “Controlling Backyard Invaders” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/11FinalCBI.pdf “Livable Ecosystems: A Model for Suburbia” or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/live_eco_final.pdf “Livable Lawns” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/10/D32536_LivableLawn s_FINAL_web.pdf Add other materials as appropriate. See Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Page 10 for recommendations. Do not lend personal materials to clients. Also have on hand copies of specimen diagnostics forms and the plant ID form.
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Team Leader Team Members
MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT PROCEDURES
VISIT DURATION Duration of site visit with the client may be up to two hours. Team members may also meet together for 15 minutes prior to and after the visit.
PHOTOGRAPHS The team leader or a designated team member may take photographs during or immediately after the visit. Do no include pictures of clients, their family members or pets without their permission. PROFESSIONALISM Team members behave professionally during the visit, are attentive to the client, considerate of their ideas and concerns, and avoid sidebar conversations. Team members identify themselves as Master Gardeners by wearing their official nametags. The team leader directs the activities of the team. Team members follow the direction of the team leader. PLANT IDENTIFICATION It is often not possible, nor is it necessary, to identify plants on site at the client’s request. The team can take appropriate samples and use the MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Form to request assistance of the Horticultural Agent. See page 14.
PLANT DIAGNOSTICS Team members will be able to identify common plant pests and diseases (see Appendix A Page 8). For those that they cannot identify the team leader will provide the client with forms and instructions on how to submit specimens and also take specimens for diagnosis by the MG Diagnostics Team using appropriate forms. HYDROLOGY The site visit team does not address drainage/erosion or sinkhole problems on the client’s property. Instead, the team leader should refer them as follows: For sinkhole problems – DNREC Division of Soil and Water Conservation Debris Pit Remediation Program http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/district/Pages/DebrisPit.aspx Phone: 302-834-5555 Fax: 302-834-0692 2430 Old County Road Newark, DE 19702 [email protected] or 302-834-5555
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For drainage problems – NCC Conservation District http://newcastleconservationdistrict.org or 302-832-3100
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONS Team members do not make specific recommendations of individuals or companies that provide professional landscape services. Refer clients instead to the Yellow Pages or to the relevant professional associations. For arborists http://www.isa-arbor.com/faca/findArborist.aspx For landscapers http://www.apld.com/ and www.dnlaonline.org/membership/directory.php OPENING AND CLOSING THE SITE VISIT PROCESS WITH THE CLIENT Spend a few minutes at the beginning of the visit leading a review of the client’s priorities, identifying any changes, and establishing what they expect to get out of the site visit. Even if they have requested a written report encourage the client to take notes and ask questions. Ask the client to lead the team through the landscape to make sure that they cover their priorities. The team leader is responsible for keeping the team and client focused and on time. Spend a few minutes at the end of the visit reviewing the client’s priorities once again to make sure that everything they requested was covered and to answer any additional questions. Thank the client for inviting New Castle County Master Gardeners to help them with their landscape or horticultural concerns.
GIVE THE CLIENT A SHORT FORM EVALUATION Team Leader For a non-report visit, give the homeowner a copy of the “Short Form” evaluation and urge him/her to return it to the MG Office. For a report visit, send a copy of the “Short Form” Evaluation to the homeowner with the report, and urge him/her to return it. Team leader
COLLECT THE DONATION
At the end of the site visit the team leader collects the client’s donation in cash or by check made out to “NCCMG” in the amount of $75.00, or $125.00 if a written report is requested. Write the client accession number on the check, attach a cash deposit slip with the amount, client name and accession number and your signature and place it in the Treasurer’s folder in the MG Office. In the unlikely event that the donation was prepaid, check with the Horticultural Agent for instructions.
Team Leader
REPORT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION
The University of Delaware Cooperation Extension Service receives Federal and State funding and must collect demographics about clients served to comply with Equal Opportunity requirements. Therefore, the team leader must send to the chairperson(s) the gender and ethnicity of the site visit client(s).
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Team Leader Team Members
APPENDIX A
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MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT CHECKLIST
Not all of the topics listed below will be relevant to each visit. Use the client’s priorities and team observations to focus on the appropriate checklist items. Curb Appeal: Does the landscape fit into the context of the neighborhood? What is the home type (single family or town home)? What is the architectural style (Colonial, Victorian, Georgian, contemporary)? What is the overall first impression? Is plant material appropriate to the size of the property and building(s)? Is plant material overgrown? What percent of the plant material is evergreen? Deciduous? (Is the mix appropriate for all seasons of the year?) Are there large areas of front lawn with little definition from landscape plantings? Are there formal planting beds?
Initial site analysis: Which way is the home oriented? Is there optimal shade on the west side to protect from the summer sun, such as a large tree in the southwest corner? Are there plants on the NW corner to protect from winter winds? Is the home below grade, at grade or on a hill?
Entry Way: Is the house easily accessible from the street? Is the entryway inviting/attractive? Is the front door visible from the street? Is the sidewalk entrance “announced” with plants, lighting? What is the sidewalk shape, width, material, condition (e.g. tripping hazard)? What is the view as you leave the front door? Is there a mailbox near the road that is unadorned, over adorned? Does the mailbox or any utility service structure(s) stand out as unaddressed landscape elements?
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Design Elements: Style Formal? (e.g. straight lines, geometrical) Informal? (e.g. cottage garden) Regional? (e.g. English, French, Italian, Mediterranean)
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Framing Do trees in the front lawn frame the house? Are there corner anchor shrubs? Does the home appear to be nestled into its surroundings?
Balance Are plantings balanced (i.e., equal weight to each side)? Are the foundation plantings too large, too small or non-existent?
Unity and Rhythm Is the landscape cohesive or is there chaos and clutter? Whenever possible are there odd number groupings of 3 or more of the same plant? Color:
Does the client have a color palette preference? Is it appropriate to the house and neighborhood?
Screening: Is view screening adequate or does it need improvement?
Beds & Borders: Are they in proportion to the other plants and to the home? Can they be combined to become more cohesive? Do the planting beds have a shape that is consistent with a design theme? Are the beds informal or formal or both in the same bed? Do beds provide three or four season interest? Is there plant layering? Is there appropriate use of texture? Is there appropriate use of color in the foliage? Will the client consider chartreuse? Are the plantings in drifts, three’s, or specimen plants? Is there a need for edging beds or hardscaping? Are there groundcovers? Are the beds weed-free? If a mechanical weed barrier is used, it may create dry conditions. Encourage its removal and use of organic mulch. Is mulch being used appropriately, or is it in a “volcano” shape? What type of mulch is being used? Natural, man-made?
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Property Accessibility: Is it easy to move throughout the entire property? Is movement smooth or halted? Neighbor-borrowed landscape opportunities. Screening? Borders? Fencing? Views?
Plant Material: Is it well sited for the environment? Sun/shade tolerance? Wet/dry tolerance? Soil type/pH tolerance? Is there appropriate use of natives? Are some plants being overused (e.g., hostas, day lilies, liriope, iris, rudbeckia)? What plants can be relocated? What plants should be pruned or discarded due to appearance, size, age or disease? Pruning: Discuss proper pruning techniques of dead, diseased, and crossing branches, leader selection, etc. Are formal hedges tapered to allow light to reach lower limbs? Are mowers inadvertently “pruning” lower limbs of evergreens?
Common Pests Observed: As diseases and insects are noted, discuss IPM (scouting, identification, remediation, and treatment), economic thresholds, and resistant cultivars. Roses (black spot, Japanese beetles, aphids armored scale). Lilacs (powdery mildew). Birches (borers and leaf miners). Euonymus (scale). Azalea (lace bugs, mites). Flowering fruit trees; pear, apple, plum, cherry (borers, fire blight, scab). Evergreens (bagworms, needle scale).
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Trees:
Lawn:
Are large deciduous trees providing adequate shade for the house from mid-day and afternoon sun? Is the root flare visible and is mulch applied at appropriate depth (2”) avoiding “volcanoes”? Are trees in contact with power lines? See Pruning above. Appropriate turf density? Proper mowing height (2.5-3 inches)? Appropriate color? Soil fertility test within last 3 years with what results; pH etc.? Is there a current fertilization program? Are weeds present (e.g. crabgrass, broad-leaf weeds, nut sedge)? Is there an herbicide program? Which products? Use of Roundup® for edging and as broad spectrum herbicide? Are diseases and insects present? Is a lawn care service being used? “Freedom Lawn”? Are they or do they want to allow the lawn to revert to a “natural state”? Neighborhood and governmental standards must be observed. Reduced Lawn? Are they or do they want to reduce lawn size by adding additional planting beds or, if it’s a large property, putting some of it into meadow?
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Backyard: What is the overall first impression? Are there major view corridors from the house? What improvements can be made with plant material and/or hardscaping? Is there appropriate screening? What are the existing design elements (see page 7)? Have outdoor rooms been made? Are the use areas well defined? (e.g. recreation, meditation, cut flower garden, vegetable garden, seating, dining, etc.)? Plant material (see page 8) Is it a wildlife habitat (i.e. nesting, food, water, shelter)? Is a water feature present? Patio/Deck Area: Are containers appropriately sized, properly located, etc.? Are garden ornaments in use (e.g. wind chimes, etc.)? Do nearby plants provide fragrance to the area?
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Other Elements: Rain gardens and swales. Drain field limitations . For drainage problems – NCC Conservation District http://newcastleconservationdistrict.org or 302-832-3100 Screening of utility boxes and A/C units. Are ornamental grasses being used to their best advantage? Vegetable gardens. Invasive plants present.
Budget: Does the client have an appreciation for which investments in their landscape will provide the most return for their investment? They may wish to prepare a budget for a period of 3-5 years. One guideline is to determine if the total budget is within bounds. The value for all the elements of the landscape (design, plant material, hardscaping, installation, etc.) should be 5% -10% of the value of the property exclusive infrastructure such as a swimming pool, irrigation system, major water feature, and major site improvements, e.g. drainage.
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Additional Literature that may be relevant: Start Composting Today Trees for Delaware brochure or web site http://dda.delaware.gov/forestry/forms/26529_Treebro.pdf Consult the main Cooperative Extension Website: http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden for landscaping and lawn topics: soil health & composting lawn diseases identification and control (PP-06); turf grass selections for Delaware; lawn pests. See also Lawn Insects and Their Control HYG 17; Trees for Delaware http://dda.delaware.gov/forestry/forms/26529_Treebro.pdf
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APPENDIX B
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GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT REPORTS Team Leader Team Members Horticultural Agent Overview The MG Horticultural Home Advice program offers an applicant the choice of having a written report prepared by the Master Gardener Team following the site visit or to forgo the report for the opportunity to take their own notes during the visit. Reports for all clients should be of comparable length. When a report is requested, it should not exceed three (3) pages in length plus appended plant and reference lists. This is required in part because of the need to deliver a report to the client in a timely manner and because of the time available to the Horticultural Agent for review. The report page limit also insures that all MG Horticultural Home Visit applications are managed consistently. The reports should be focused on the priorities established by the client and the team and should be concise. Where appropriate, the applicant may be guided to reference materials for additional information. If the Horticultural Agent receives a report that is longer than 3 pages it may be returned to the team leader with a request to edit to 3 pages and then to re-submit. In order to achieve a concise report only those issues and priorities identified by the client and the team should be stressed. At the conclusion of the site visit, the team leader should reconfirm that the issues were addressed and that those issues will be the focus of the written report. Photographs taken at the site visit are not to be included in the report, but are for the use of the team in preparing the report and the Horticultural Agent in reviewing it. The report will not provide designs or an extensive list of references, appendices, etc. Instead, it will suggest that the applicant go to the internet to see images, or specific publications, etc. The report may provide web addresses. For further information and web addresses, consult the List of Useful Websites on Various Topics given to you at yours home visit. Common Issues for All Reports are now addressed in the Glossary of Good Gardening Practices See the Glossary for information on Native Plants and Latin Binomials.
Photo Submission Photos are not included in the report but are highly desirable for subsequent site team review and are often invaluable for the Horticultural Agent’s review. Permission to take photographs should always be requested. Forward pictures to the Horticultural Agent at the same time they are forwarded to the site team. Identify photos sent with the name of the client and the client accession number.
Brand Names Do not use brand names when recommending fertilizers, pesticides, or any other product. Cooperative Extension policy is that we may not recommend businesses, products or commercial websites that usually end with .com or .bus). It is acceptable to
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say, for example, “an herbicide containing glyphosate, such as Roundup®”. See also PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONS on page 4.
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Report Format Disclaimer: The following disclaimer should be the first paragraph for all reports. “The following outline highlights our major observations. It is not intended to capture all the details of our discussion. Please advise if you would like us to clarify any of these points, and please consult the Glossary of Good Gardening Practices in the folder given to you at your home visit.”
Overview: Include in this paragraph a brief description of the property and what you liked, what is going well, etc. You may wish to use text such as: “We appreciate your asking the Master Gardeners to assist you in addressing your landscape problems and concerns. As we discussed on several occasions, you have a lot of work in front of you that should be done in phases. Landscaping is a dynamic process and does not need to be done immediately. Your thoughts on what you like may change as you progress over time.”
The following sections may or may not be relevant for all clients. References for New Plants:
“Several plants that we discussed during our visit and that are in this report may be new to you. To become more familiar with them, we recommend that you use an internet search engine image feature. Search by the plant’s Latin binomial that we provided. You will receive a number of images. Clicking on these images often provides additional information about the plant. You will also receive a number of web sties. Select web sites of commercial or institutional sources located in the midAtlantic region.”
General: This is an optional section where you could include all your general observations that apply to all aspects of the report. For example, pruning, invasive plants, deer protection, proper planting methods, soil testing may apply to several sections of the report. Curb Appeal:
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As requested by the client. However, this is a topic that should be addressed due it its importance to the visual quality of the property and its relationship to the neighborhood.
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Backyard and Side Yards: As requested by the client. Patio, Deck and View Corridors: As requested by the client. Lawn:
As requested by the client. Be sure to include the “Livable Lawns” booklet or reference to http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/10/D32536_LivableLa wns_FINAL_web.pdf
References for Use by Clients: References may be cited for additional information (Web site URLs and books by author and title).
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MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission
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Client Name_______________________ Client # _____________ Site Visit Date___________ Address________________________________________________________________ Phone_____________________________________________ Email address_______________________________________ Team Leader Name___________________________ Email____________________________ Submit sample in a dampened sealed plastic bag. Sample should be large enough to show several leaves, flowers or buds, fruit, nuts or seed heads, if present. Supply as much information as possible. Photos are welcomed and can be emailed along with the HHA Client accession # to [email protected]. Submit specimen and form to the Cooperative Extension Horticultural Agent. Complete all of the information below. Check all that apply. Plant source: Tree ___ Shrub___ Vine___ Groundcover___ Fern___ Ornamental Grass___ Perennial ___ Deciduous (drops leaves in fall)___ Evergreen___ Don’t know ___ Mature size: Low (under 12 inches) ___ Low-Medium (1-8 feet)___ Medium (8-25 feet)___ Tall (over 25 feet)___ Don’t know ___ Growth habit: Bushy___ Spreading___ Upright___ Columnar___ Arching ___ Mat forming___ Climber___
Don’t know ___
Season of bloom: Spring___ Summer___ Autumn___ Winter___ Don’t know ___ Flower: Color________________________________
Don’t know ___
Type: Single___ Cluster___ Spike___ Don’t know____ Additional Comments: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
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New Castle County Master Gardeners @ Home Horticulture Visit Guidelines for Administration, Site Visits and Reporting TABLE OF CONTENTS MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Administration and Site Visit Guidelines
For Extension Horticultural Agent MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Administration Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission Form For MG Home Horticulture Advice Committee Chairperson(s) MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Administration
For MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Team Leader MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Preparation MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Procedures Collect Donation Report Equal Opportunity Information Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission Form For MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Team Members MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Site Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines
Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Appendix B: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Report Guidelines MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission Form
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MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT ADMINISTRATION Extension Horticultural Agent MG Home Horticulture Advice Committee Chairperson(s)
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APPLICATIONS available at the Master Gardener web site Horticultural Agent Receives and reviews applications for eligibility to participate. Forwards applications to HHA chairperson(s). Reviews and approves all written reports requested by clients.
INITIAL CLIENT CONTACT Chairperson(s) Review priorities and landscape details with the client by phone. Establish dates and times client is available for site visit. Include a weekend and evening whenever possible.
SITE VISIT TEAM RECRUITMENT Chairperson(s) Send electronic invitation to HHA Committee members to participate in site visit. Provide dates, times, general location and description of client’s priorities, experience, including any landscape and horticultural details. From Committee members’ availability responses select a site visit team of no fewer than two and no more than four members. Recruit a team leader from among the selected team members. Send email to the site visit team confirming their selection giving client name, address, site visit date and name of the team leader. Send email to the remaining site team volunteers indicating that the site team has been formed so that they can clear their calendars. Send email to team leader to confirm their appointment; provide the client phone number and email address (if available) and client accession number. MAINTAIN HHA ACTIVITY LOG & REPORT TO HORTICULTURAL AGENT ANNUALLY Chairperson(s) Assign and enter client accession number, demographics, and dates of application, site team recruitment, site visit, and report (if requested) sent to client. Enter site visit revenue and date submitted to Treasurer. Enter Equal Opportunity information in the Activity Log. Provide the Activity Log and participations summaries to the Horticultural Agent annually. QUARTERLY REPORT TO MG TREASURER Chairperson(s) Send a quarterly report to the MG Treasurer providing client accession numbers, client names and amounts of donations.
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Team Leader
MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT PREPARATION
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FOLLOW-UP CONTACT WITH CLIENT Contact client to introduce him/herself and confirm the site visit date and time. Also confirm the client’s priorities, and tell the client what to expect from the visit including the format of the written report if one was requested. FOLLOW-UP CONTACT WITH TEAM MEMBERS Contact team members to confirm site visit date, address. Arrange to meet at the property 15 minutes prior to the visit start time to discuss approach and to review the MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist (See Appendix A page 6). Arrange for a camera to take photographs of the property.
PREPARE A SITE VISIT BASIC INFORMATION FOLDER FOR THE CLIENT The folder should contain Current MG “Workshops for the Home Gardener” Soil Test Kit (available from the Extension Office) “Need an Expert Eye?” advertising card MG Business Card A List of Useful Websites on Various Topics “A Glossary of Good Gardening Practices” The one-page Delaware Master Gardeners info sheet Livable Plants for the Home Landscape” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/lowres18spreads.pdf “Plants for a Livable Delaware” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/PLD.pdf “Controlling Backyard Invaders” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/11FinalCBI.pdf “Livable Ecosystems: A Model for Suburbia” or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/06/live_eco_final.pdf “Livable Lawns” booklet or web address http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/10/D32536_LivableLawn s_FINAL_web.pdf Add other materials as appropriate. See Appendix A: MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Checklist Page 10 for recommendations. Do not lend personal materials to clients. Also have on hand copies of specimen diagnostics forms and the plant ID form.
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Team Leader Team Members
MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT PROCEDURES
VISIT DURATION Duration of site visit with the client may be up to two hours. Team members may also meet together for 15 minutes prior to and after the visit.
PHOTOGRAPHS The team leader or a designated team member may take photographs during or immediately after the visit. Do no include pictures of clients, their family members or pets without their permission. PROFESSIONALISM Team members behave professionally during the visit, are attentive to the client, considerate of their ideas and concerns, and avoid sidebar conversations. Team members identify themselves as Master Gardeners by wearing their official nametags. The team leader directs the activities of the team. Team members follow the direction of the team leader. PLANT IDENTIFICATION It is often not possible, nor is it necessary, to identify plants on site at the client’s request. The team can take appropriate samples and use the MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Form to request assistance of the Horticultural Agent. See page 14.
PLANT DIAGNOSTICS Team members will be able to identify common plant pests and diseases (see Appendix A Page 8). For those that they cannot identify the team leader will provide the client with forms and instructions on how to submit specimens and also take specimens for diagnosis by the MG Diagnostics Team using appropriate forms. HYDROLOGY The site visit team does not address drainage/erosion or sinkhole problems on the client’s property. Instead, the team leader should refer them as follows: For sinkhole problems – DNREC Division of Soil and Water Conservation Debris Pit Remediation Program http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/district/Pages/DebrisPit.aspx Phone: 302-834-5555 Fax: 302-834-0692 2430 Old County Road Newark, DE 19702 [email protected] or 302-834-5555
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For drainage problems – NCC Conservation District http://newcastleconservationdistrict.org or 302-832-3100
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONS Team members do not make specific recommendations of individuals or companies that provide professional landscape services. Refer clients instead to the Yellow Pages or to the relevant professional associations. For arborists http://www.isa-arbor.com/faca/findArborist.aspx For landscapers http://www.apld.com/ and www.dnlaonline.org/membership/directory.php OPENING AND CLOSING THE SITE VISIT PROCESS WITH THE CLIENT Spend a few minutes at the beginning of the visit leading a review of the client’s priorities, identifying any changes, and establishing what they expect to get out of the site visit. Even if they have requested a written report encourage the client to take notes and ask questions. Ask the client to lead the team through the landscape to make sure that they cover their priorities. The team leader is responsible for keeping the team and client focused and on time. Spend a few minutes at the end of the visit reviewing the client’s priorities once again to make sure that everything they requested was covered and to answer any additional questions. Thank the client for inviting New Castle County Master Gardeners to help them with their landscape or horticultural concerns.
GIVE THE CLIENT A SHORT FORM EVALUATION Team Leader For a non-report visit, give the homeowner a copy of the “Short Form” evaluation and urge him/her to return it to the MG Office. For a report visit, send a copy of the “Short Form” Evaluation to the homeowner with the report, and urge him/her to return it. Team leader
COLLECT THE DONATION
At the end of the site visit the team leader collects the client’s donation in cash or by check made out to “NCCMG” in the amount of $75.00, or $125.00 if a written report is requested. Write the client accession number on the check, attach a cash deposit slip with the amount, client name and accession number and your signature and place it in the Treasurer’s folder in the MG Office. In the unlikely event that the donation was prepaid, check with the Horticultural Agent for instructions.
Team Leader
REPORT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION
The University of Delaware Cooperation Extension Service receives Federal and State funding and must collect demographics about clients served to comply with Equal Opportunity requirements. Therefore, the team leader must send to the chairperson(s) the gender and ethnicity of the site visit client(s).
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Team Leader Team Members
APPENDIX A
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MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT CHECKLIST
Not all of the topics listed below will be relevant to each visit. Use the client’s priorities and team observations to focus on the appropriate checklist items. Curb Appeal: Does the landscape fit into the context of the neighborhood? What is the home type (single family or town home)? What is the architectural style (Colonial, Victorian, Georgian, contemporary)? What is the overall first impression? Is plant material appropriate to the size of the property and building(s)? Is plant material overgrown? What percent of the plant material is evergreen? Deciduous? (Is the mix appropriate for all seasons of the year?) Are there large areas of front lawn with little definition from landscape plantings? Are there formal planting beds?
Initial site analysis: Which way is the home oriented? Is there optimal shade on the west side to protect from the summer sun, such as a large tree in the southwest corner? Are there plants on the NW corner to protect from winter winds? Is the home below grade, at grade or on a hill?
Entry Way: Is the house easily accessible from the street? Is the entryway inviting/attractive? Is the front door visible from the street? Is the sidewalk entrance “announced” with plants, lighting? What is the sidewalk shape, width, material, condition (e.g. tripping hazard)? What is the view as you leave the front door? Is there a mailbox near the road that is unadorned, over adorned? Does the mailbox or any utility service structure(s) stand out as unaddressed landscape elements?
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Design Elements: Style Formal? (e.g. straight lines, geometrical) Informal? (e.g. cottage garden) Regional? (e.g. English, French, Italian, Mediterranean)
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Framing Do trees in the front lawn frame the house? Are there corner anchor shrubs? Does the home appear to be nestled into its surroundings?
Balance Are plantings balanced (i.e., equal weight to each side)? Are the foundation plantings too large, too small or non-existent?
Unity and Rhythm Is the landscape cohesive or is there chaos and clutter? Whenever possible are there odd number groupings of 3 or more of the same plant? Color:
Does the client have a color palette preference? Is it appropriate to the house and neighborhood?
Screening: Is view screening adequate or does it need improvement?
Beds & Borders: Are they in proportion to the other plants and to the home? Can they be combined to become more cohesive? Do the planting beds have a shape that is consistent with a design theme? Are the beds informal or formal or both in the same bed? Do beds provide three or four season interest? Is there plant layering? Is there appropriate use of texture? Is there appropriate use of color in the foliage? Will the client consider chartreuse? Are the plantings in drifts, three’s, or specimen plants? Is there a need for edging beds or hardscaping? Are there groundcovers? Are the beds weed-free? If a mechanical weed barrier is used, it may create dry conditions. Encourage its removal and use of organic mulch. Is mulch being used appropriately, or is it in a “volcano” shape? What type of mulch is being used? Natural, man-made?
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Property Accessibility: Is it easy to move throughout the entire property? Is movement smooth or halted? Neighbor-borrowed landscape opportunities. Screening? Borders? Fencing? Views?
Plant Material: Is it well sited for the environment? Sun/shade tolerance? Wet/dry tolerance? Soil type/pH tolerance? Is there appropriate use of natives? Are some plants being overused (e.g., hostas, day lilies, liriope, iris, rudbeckia)? What plants can be relocated? What plants should be pruned or discarded due to appearance, size, age or disease? Pruning: Discuss proper pruning techniques of dead, diseased, and crossing branches, leader selection, etc. Are formal hedges tapered to allow light to reach lower limbs? Are mowers inadvertently “pruning” lower limbs of evergreens?
Common Pests Observed: As diseases and insects are noted, discuss IPM (scouting, identification, remediation, and treatment), economic thresholds, and resistant cultivars. Roses (black spot, Japanese beetles, aphids armored scale). Lilacs (powdery mildew). Birches (borers and leaf miners). Euonymus (scale). Azalea (lace bugs, mites). Flowering fruit trees; pear, apple, plum, cherry (borers, fire blight, scab). Evergreens (bagworms, needle scale).
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Trees:
Lawn:
Are large deciduous trees providing adequate shade for the house from mid-day and afternoon sun? Is the root flare visible and is mulch applied at appropriate depth (2”) avoiding “volcanoes”? Are trees in contact with power lines? See Pruning above. Appropriate turf density? Proper mowing height (2.5-3 inches)? Appropriate color? Soil fertility test within last 3 years with what results; pH etc.? Is there a current fertilization program? Are weeds present (e.g. crabgrass, broad-leaf weeds, nut sedge)? Is there an herbicide program? Which products? Use of Roundup® for edging and as broad spectrum herbicide? Are diseases and insects present? Is a lawn care service being used? “Freedom Lawn”? Are they or do they want to allow the lawn to revert to a “natural state”? Neighborhood and governmental standards must be observed. Reduced Lawn? Are they or do they want to reduce lawn size by adding additional planting beds or, if it’s a large property, putting some of it into meadow?
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Backyard: What is the overall first impression? Are there major view corridors from the house? What improvements can be made with plant material and/or hardscaping? Is there appropriate screening? What are the existing design elements (see page 7)? Have outdoor rooms been made? Are the use areas well defined? (e.g. recreation, meditation, cut flower garden, vegetable garden, seating, dining, etc.)? Plant material (see page 8) Is it a wildlife habitat (i.e. nesting, food, water, shelter)? Is a water feature present? Patio/Deck Area: Are containers appropriately sized, properly located, etc.? Are garden ornaments in use (e.g. wind chimes, etc.)? Do nearby plants provide fragrance to the area?
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Other Elements: Rain gardens and swales. Drain field limitations . For drainage problems – NCC Conservation District http://newcastleconservationdistrict.org or 302-832-3100 Screening of utility boxes and A/C units. Are ornamental grasses being used to their best advantage? Vegetable gardens. Invasive plants present.
Budget: Does the client have an appreciation for which investments in their landscape will provide the most return for their investment? They may wish to prepare a budget for a period of 3-5 years. One guideline is to determine if the total budget is within bounds. The value for all the elements of the landscape (design, plant material, hardscaping, installation, etc.) should be 5% -10% of the value of the property exclusive infrastructure such as a swimming pool, irrigation system, major water feature, and major site improvements, e.g. drainage.
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Additional Literature that may be relevant: Start Composting Today Trees for Delaware brochure or web site http://dda.delaware.gov/forestry/forms/26529_Treebro.pdf Consult the main Cooperative Extension Website: http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden for landscaping and lawn topics: soil health & composting lawn diseases identification and control (PP-06); turf grass selections for Delaware; lawn pests. See also Lawn Insects and Their Control HYG 17; Trees for Delaware http://dda.delaware.gov/forestry/forms/26529_Treebro.pdf
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APPENDIX B
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GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING MG @ HOME HORTICULTURE VISIT REPORTS Team Leader Team Members Horticultural Agent Overview The MG Horticultural Home Advice program offers an applicant the choice of having a written report prepared by the Master Gardener Team following the site visit or to forgo the report for the opportunity to take their own notes during the visit. Reports for all clients should be of comparable length. When a report is requested, it should not exceed three (3) pages in length plus appended plant and reference lists. This is required in part because of the need to deliver a report to the client in a timely manner and because of the time available to the Horticultural Agent for review. The report page limit also insures that all MG Horticultural Home Visit applications are managed consistently. The reports should be focused on the priorities established by the client and the team and should be concise. Where appropriate, the applicant may be guided to reference materials for additional information. If the Horticultural Agent receives a report that is longer than 3 pages it may be returned to the team leader with a request to edit to 3 pages and then to re-submit. In order to achieve a concise report only those issues and priorities identified by the client and the team should be stressed. At the conclusion of the site visit, the team leader should reconfirm that the issues were addressed and that those issues will be the focus of the written report. Photographs taken at the site visit are not to be included in the report, but are for the use of the team in preparing the report and the Horticultural Agent in reviewing it. The report will not provide designs or an extensive list of references, appendices, etc. Instead, it will suggest that the applicant go to the internet to see images, or specific publications, etc. The report may provide web addresses. For further information and web addresses, consult the List of Useful Websites on Various Topics given to you at yours home visit. Common Issues for All Reports are now addressed in the Glossary of Good Gardening Practices See the Glossary for information on Native Plants and Latin Binomials.
Photo Submission Photos are not included in the report but are highly desirable for subsequent site team review and are often invaluable for the Horticultural Agent’s review. Permission to take photographs should always be requested. Forward pictures to the Horticultural Agent at the same time they are forwarded to the site team. Identify photos sent with the name of the client and the client accession number.
Brand Names Do not use brand names when recommending fertilizers, pesticides, or any other product. Cooperative Extension policy is that we may not recommend businesses, products or commercial websites that usually end with .com or .bus). It is acceptable to
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say, for example, “an herbicide containing glyphosate, such as Roundup®”. See also PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONS on page 4.
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Report Format Disclaimer: The following disclaimer should be the first paragraph for all reports. “The following outline highlights our major observations. It is not intended to capture all the details of our discussion. Please advise if you would like us to clarify any of these points, and please consult the Glossary of Good Gardening Practices in the folder given to you at your home visit.”
Overview: Include in this paragraph a brief description of the property and what you liked, what is going well, etc. You may wish to use text such as: “We appreciate your asking the Master Gardeners to assist you in addressing your landscape problems and concerns. As we discussed on several occasions, you have a lot of work in front of you that should be done in phases. Landscaping is a dynamic process and does not need to be done immediately. Your thoughts on what you like may change as you progress over time.”
The following sections may or may not be relevant for all clients. References for New Plants:
“Several plants that we discussed during our visit and that are in this report may be new to you. To become more familiar with them, we recommend that you use an internet search engine image feature. Search by the plant’s Latin binomial that we provided. You will receive a number of images. Clicking on these images often provides additional information about the plant. You will also receive a number of web sties. Select web sites of commercial or institutional sources located in the midAtlantic region.”
General: This is an optional section where you could include all your general observations that apply to all aspects of the report. For example, pruning, invasive plants, deer protection, proper planting methods, soil testing may apply to several sections of the report. Curb Appeal:
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As requested by the client. However, this is a topic that should be addressed due it its importance to the visual quality of the property and its relationship to the neighborhood.
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Backyard and Side Yards: As requested by the client. Patio, Deck and View Corridors: As requested by the client. Lawn:
As requested by the client. Be sure to include the “Livable Lawns” booklet or reference to http://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/files/2012/10/D32536_LivableLa wns_FINAL_web.pdf
References for Use by Clients: References may be cited for additional information (Web site URLs and books by author and title).
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MG @ Home Horticulture Visit Plant Identification Submission
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Client Name_______________________ Client # _____________ Site Visit Date___________ Address________________________________________________________________ Phone_____________________________________________ Email address_______________________________________ Team Leader Name___________________________ Email____________________________ Submit sample in a dampened sealed plastic bag. Sample should be large enough to show several leaves, flowers or buds, fruit, nuts or seed heads, if present. Supply as much information as possible. Photos are welcomed and can be emailed along with the HHA Client accession # to [email protected]. Submit specimen and form to the Cooperative Extension Horticultural Agent. Complete all of the information below. Check all that apply. Plant source: Tree ___ Shrub___ Vine___ Groundcover___ Fern___ Ornamental Grass___ Perennial ___ Deciduous (drops leaves in fall)___ Evergreen___ Don’t know ___ Mature size: Low (under 12 inches) ___ Low-Medium (1-8 feet)___ Medium (8-25 feet)___ Tall (over 25 feet)___ Don’t know ___ Growth habit: Bushy___ Spreading___ Upright___ Columnar___ Arching ___ Mat forming___ Climber___
Don’t know ___
Season of bloom: Spring___ Summer___ Autumn___ Winter___ Don’t know ___ Flower: Color________________________________
Don’t know ___
Type: Single___ Cluster___ Spike___ Don’t know____ Additional Comments: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
