Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course if designed to give the student a practical, but partial background in modern arboriculture.  Students will learn through outdoor labs how to prune, fertilize, and cable trees, in addition to tree appraising, hazard tree evaluation, and construction protection.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how pruning affects tree growth and health.
2. Identify pruning techniques and systems.
3. Understand the interaction between soils, fertilization, and trees.
4. Understand the factors involved in tree appraisal and hazard tree evaluation.

The Instructor prepares hands-on labs before class (e.g. find sites, order and stage materials, prep site). During the lab period, the Instructor teaches tree care and arboriculture skills through active demonstrations in real time. Students then perform arboriculture skills with the Instructor's guidance and receive verbal feedback as they work. Students prepare reports on the lab activities and related experiences (see course project) and are tested on the skills learned in lab. The reports and tests are submitted and the Instructor evaluates the reports and tests outside of class time - providing a score and feedback on technical accuracy, completeness and professionalism.

• Written mid-term and final exams
• End of term written project or oral presentation
• Performance competencies

• Pruning
• Fertilization
• Tree Appraisal
• Cabling and Bracing
• Construction Protection
• Hazard Tree Management