The Maryland Master Gardener Handbook

1. Introduction
1.1. About This Handbook
1.2. How to Use This Handbook
1.3. University of Maryland Extension Master GardenerProgram
2. Teaching and Communication
2.1. Teaching Overview
2.2. Age-Appropriate Teaching
2.3. Communications Overview
2.4. Communication Methods
2.5. Giving a Great Presentation
2.6. Using Mass Media
2.7. Teaching Online
3. Ecology
3.1. Maryland's Ecology
3.2. Maryland's Landscape
3.3. Plant and Wildlife Communities
3.4. Species Interactions
3.5. Species and Populations
3.6. Ecosystems
3.7. What Is a Wetland?
3.8. Why Are Wetlands Important?
3.9. Wetland Regulations
3.10. How to Preserve Wetlands
4. Basic Botany
4.1. Groupings of Plants
4.2. Classification of Plants
4.3. The Structure of Plants
4.4. Reproductive Structures
4.5. Pollination
4.6. Plant Growth & Development
4.7. Regulation of Plant Growth
4.8. Plant Selection & Modification
5. Soils and Fertilizers
5.1. What is a Soil?
5.2. Soil Solids
5.3. Soil Pores
5.4. Soil as Entities of Nature
5.5. Soils as Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services
5.6. Soils as Hydrologic Buffers
5.7. Soils as Biochemical and Chemical Reactors
5.8. Soils as Media for Plant Growth
5.9. Soil Testing
5.10. Soil Health
6. Plant Nutrition
6.1. Nutrition Essentiality
6.2. Nutrient Types
6.3. Nutrient Availability
6.4. Macronutrients
6.5. Micronutrients
6.6. Beneficial Non-Essential Nutrients
7. Composting
7.1. Why Make Compost?
7.2. How Is Compost Made?
7.3. Compost Ingredients
7.4. Starting a Compost Pile
7.5. What Can Be Composted?
7.6. Basic Composting Steps
7.7. Troubleshooting Compost
7.8. Tips for Using Compost
8. Insect Basics
8.1. Insects as Part of a Natural System
8.2. Insect Structure
8.3. Insect Metamorphosis
8.4. Insect Classification
8.5. Common Landscape Pests
8.6. Common Household Pests
8.7. Beneficial Insects
8.8. Common Non-Insect Arthropods
9. Plant Disease Basics
9.1. Impact of Plant Disease
9.2. Basic Plant Disease Concepts
9.3. Fungi and Plant Diseases
9.4. Classification of Plant Pathogenic Fungi
9.5. Plant Diseases Caused by Bacteria
9.6. Plant Diseases Caused by Phytoplasmas
9.7. Plant Diseases Caused by Nematodes
9.8. Plant Diseases Caused by Viruses
9.9. Parasitic Plants
9.10. Environmental Diseases
9.11. Principles of Plant Disease Control
9.12. Biological and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Controls
10. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
10.1. What is IPM?
10.2. IPM Steps
10.3. Healthy Plants = Fewer Problems
10.4. Taking Action
11. Pesticide Use and Safety
11.1. Pesticide Basics
11.2. Pesticide Formulations
11.3. The Pesticide Label
11.4. Managing Pesticide Risk
11.5. Proper Application Practices
11.6. Organic Pesticides
12. Plant Diagnostics
12.1. A Systematic Approach for Diagnosing PlantProblems
12.2. How Plants Show Symptoms
12.3. Biotic vs. Abiotic Causes of Plant Problems
12.4. Symptoms and Signs of Plant Diseases
12.5. Symptoms and Signs of Insect Pests
12.6. Diagnostic Keys
13. Weeds
13.1. Why Are Weeds a Problem?
13.2. Weed Biology
13.3. Weed Identification
13.4. Weed Management
13.5. Sustainable Weed Maintenance Plan
14. Lawns
14.1. Turfgrass Identification
14.2. Turfgrass Species
14.3. Lawn Establishment
14.4. Cultural Practices for Turf
14.5. Turfgrass Problems
14.6. Organic Lawn Care Tips
14.7. Lawn Alternatives
15. Herbaceous Plants
15.1. About Herbaceous Gardens
15.2. Herbaceous Plant Families
15.3. Annuals
15.4. Perennials
15.5. Biennials
15.6. Underground Stems
15.7. Landscape Design with Herbaceous Plants
15.8. Herbaceous Garden Maintenance
15.9. Sexual Propagation of Herbaceous Plants
15.10. Asexual Propagation of Herbaceous Plants
16. Woody Plants
16.1. Planning and Site Selection
16.2. Plant Selection
16.3. Purchasing Woody Plants
16.4. Planting Woody Ornamentals
16.5. Post-Planting Care
16.6. Woody Plant Maintenance
16.7. Transplanting Woody Ornamentals
16.8. Abiotic Problems of Woody Plants
16.9. Problematic Trees & Shrubs
16.10. Recommended Woody Plants
16.11. Ornamental Vines
16.12. Groundcovers
17. Pruning
17.1. Physiology of Pruning
17.2. Why Prune?
17.3. Pruning Tools
17.4. Pruning Techniques & Terms
17.5. When to Prune
17.6. Training Newly-Planted Trees
17.7. Pruning Mature Trees
17.8. Pruning Shrubs
17.9. Pruning Hedges
17.10. Pruning Conifers
17.11. Pruning Other Plants
18. Vegetables
18.1. Starting a Vegetable Garden
18.2. Garden Types and Techniques
18.3. Selecting a Garden Site
18.4. Soil Assessment and Testing
18.5. Soil Amendments
18.6. Cover Crops
18.7. Pollination
18.8. Vegetable Planting Guide
18.9. Planting Seed
18.10. Starting Your Own Transplants
18.11. Vegetable Garden Maintenance
18.12. Harvesting Vegetables
18.13. Herbs
18.14. Profiles of Selected Vegetable Crops
19. Small Fruits
19.1. Cultivar Selection
19.2. Site Selection and Preparation
19.3. Planting Small Fruits
19.4. Small Fruits Maintenance
19.5. Blueberries
19.6. Brambles
19.7. Currants and Gooseberries
19.8. Elderberries
19.9. Grapes
19.10. Hardy Kiwis
19.11. Strawberries
20. Tree Fruits
20.1. Tree-Fruit Basics
20.2. Planting a Fruit Tree
20.3. Mulching and Weeding
20.4. Pest and Disease Control
20.5. General Pruning Guidelines
20.6. Pome Fruits: Apple and Pear
20.7. Stone Fruits: Peach, Cherry, Plum, Apricot,Nectarine
20.8. Fig Trees
21. Native Plants
21.1. Why Choose Native Plants?
21.2. How to Choose Native Plants
21.3. Maximizing Native Plant Performance
21.4. Recommended Native Plants for Maryland
22. Invasive Plants
22.1. About Invasive Species
22.2. Invasive Species: Non-Plant
22.3. Invasive Species: Plants
22.4. Invasive Control Methods
22.5. Common Invasive Plants of Maryland
23. Indoor Plants
23.1. Selecting Indoor Plants
23.2. Requirements for Healthy Indoor Plants
23.3. Maintenance Tips
23.4. Repotting Indoor Plants
23.5. Moving Indoor Plants Outdoors
23.6. Bringing Plants Back Indoors
23.7. Indoor Plant Pest and Disease Diagnostics
23.8. Toxic Indoor Plants
24. Plant Propagation
24.1. Sexual Propagation
24.1a. About Seeds
24.1b. Preparing Seeds for Germination
24.1c. Starting Seeds Indoors
24.1d. Starting Seeds Outdoors
24.2. Growing Transplants
24.3. Asexual Propagation
24.3a. Cuttings
24.3b. Layering
24.3c. Division and Separation
24.3d. Grafting and Budding
25. Container Gardening
25.1. Raised Beds
25.2. Choosing Container Plants
25.3. Choosing the Right Container
25.4. Growing Media for Containers
25.5. Potting and Repotting
25.6. Caring for Container Plants
25.7. Container Plant Pest and Disease Diagnostics
25.8. Container Combination Ideas
26. Landscape Design
26.1. What Is Landscape Design?
26.2. Site Analysis and Blob Design
26.3. Functional Uses of Space
26.4. Elements of Design
26.5. Principles of Composition
26.6. Plant Selection
26.7. Finalizing Your Design
26.8. Installation
27. Wildlife and Woodlands
27.1. Woodlands
27.2. Principles of Forestry
27.3. Property Inventory
27.4. Land Care Practices
27.5. Managing a Wildlife Habitat
27.6. Attracting Beneficial Insects
27.7. Attracting and Feeding Birds
27.8. Managing Wildlife Damage
27.9. Nuisance Animals
28. Conservation Landscaping
28.1. The Bay-Wise Philosophy
28.2. The Hydrologic Cycle
28.3. Groundwater
28.4. Water Pollution
28.5. Water Conservation
28.6. Stormwater Management
29. Garden Tools and Equipment
29.1. Choosing the Right Tools
29.2. Hand Tools
29.2a. Cutting Tools
29.2b. Digging Tools
29.2c. Raking Tools
29.2d. Maintenance of Hand Tools
29.3. Power Tools
29.3a. Mowers
29.3b. Tillers/Cultivators
29.3c. String Trimmers
29.3d. Leaf Blowers
29.3e. Lawn Edgers
29.3f. Chipper-Shredders
29.3g. Maintenance of Power Tools
29.4. Garden Accessories
29.4a. Wheelbarrows and Carts
29.4b. Trellises, Cages, and Stakes
29.4c. Watering Equipment
29.4d. Sprayers
29.4e. Maintenance of Watering Equipmentand Sprayers
29.5. Other Tools and Accessories
29.5a. Composting Tools
29.5b. Other Accessories
29.5c. Maintenance of Other Tools and Accessories
30. Resource Appendix
Glossary of Terms
Table 30-A. Measurement Conversions
Freeze Dates and Hardiness Zones
List of Figures
List of Tables
Index of Diagnostic Keys
Index