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How To Get Certified For Lawn Care

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Certified Fertilizer Applicator Program

How to Become a Certified Arborist Lawn Care & Landscaping Expert | Arbor Chairman Daniel Miraval

Virginias Regulations for the Application of Fertilizer to Nonagricultural Lands require certification for all licensees and contractor-applicators, state agencies, localities or other governmental entities engaged in the commercial application of fertilizers to non-agricultural lands. Anyone desiring certification as a Certified Fertilizer Applicator must successfully complete approved training and submit an online application to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CFA certification is valid for four years from the date of issuance. Certified fertilizer applicators shall complete a minimum of two hours of coursework every two years for recertification.

Applicators who apply fertilizer to more than 50 acres of non-agricultural land must submit an annual report on or before February 1 indicating, by zip code, the total acreage of land receiving lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer in the preceding calendar year.

For current information about certified fertilizer applicators, please contact Victoria Lawrence at .

Resources

Helpful Tips For Getting Your Lawn Care Applicator’s License

Thinking of starting a lawn care company or expanding your lawn care company across state lines?

Lawn care applicator’s licenses are required by The United States government and the rules and restrictions can vary from state to state.

Sounds like a head ache huh? To make things a little easier, we compiled a list of resources for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia area. Keep in mind that most state licensing is through the department of agriculture and testing is required.

If you are using Holganix liquid compost tea products, remember that certification is not needed because Holganix is a 0-0-0. If using Holganix in conjunction with fertilizers and pesticides, certification to apply fertilizers and pesticides is needed. When using Holganix with fertilizers and pesticides, you can reduce your inputs by up to 75%. Check out our lawn product for additional information.

Who Needs To Be Certified To Apply Pesticides

Federal law requires any person who applies or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides to be certified in accordance with EPA regulations and state, territorial and tribal laws. Pesticide applicators must know how to apply RUPs properly and effectively.

Learn more about private and commercial applicators.

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Lawn Care Certification Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction and Planning

Developing abilities as a lawn and garden specialist takes time and effort. Planning and time management are critical components of this. It’s crucial to know when to fertilize, when to mow, and when to water your plants. A vital component of having a successful lawn and garden enterprise is being able to evaluate plants and understand their needs.

Maintenance Plans and Scheduling

Creating a detailed plan and timetable for garden upkeep is the best method to keep track of it. Making a schedule might help you in the long and short run. Plants require different things at different times of the year. If you live in a location with clearly defined seasons, the plants will demand a quite different strategy.

Factors in Planning

Diverse plants necessitate quite different approaches. Some require a lot of upkeep, while others might go months without needing it. The varieties of plants in the garden should be the focus of your maintenance strategy.

Staffing and Hiring

You must consider the size of the garden as well as the quantity of attention it demands when staffing and recruiting workers for garden maintenance. If the majority of your clients have large gardens, you’ll need extra labor to keep them in good shape. Some plants take a lot more time and effort, while others can go months without being touched.

Module 2: Equipment and Consumables

Lawn Mowers

Trimmers, Cutters, and Blowers

Hand Tools

Seeders and Spreaders

Chippers

Aerators

Trailers

Lawn Care Certifications It Pays To Have

How To Get Certified as a Lawn Care Pesticide Applicator ...

You have your spray rig and spray equipment. Your pesticide applicator license and any other licenses your state or county require for your lawn spray business are in order. Now what?

Many independent lawn care operators learned the ropes by working in the field for a larger company, not in the classroom. However, even if you bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to your own lawn care business, it pays to prove your credentials.

Earning professional certifications shows your customers and potential customers that:

  • You stay on top of lawn-care best practices
  • You know how to apply weed and pest controls safely and effectively
  • Youre invested in your business
  • Youre committed to delivering top-quality lawn care services

Certifications that Support Your Lawn-Care Business and Inspire Customer Confidence

State universities, agricultural extensions, and professional organizations may all offer a variety of certificate programs in lawn care. For example, here are just three that the National Association of Landscape Professionals offers and that any independent lawn care operator should consider.

Certifications that Expand Your Lawn Care and Landscape Knowledge

More and more customers want lawn care and landscaping from the same provider. Two additional NALP programs cover material that will help you begin to bridge any gaps in your knowledge and service offerings. They also focus on ornamental tree and shrub care, which is useful to any lawn care provider.

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Qualifications For Pest Control Operators

Pest control operator certificates are issued to individuals who:

  • Are over age 18 and
  • Pass the written examinations administered by FDACS.

Examination Fees

The fee for the Certified Pest Control Operator exam is $300 per category.

How to Qualify to Take the Certification Examination

You can qualify to take the certification examination by experience or by education plus experience.

Experience

To qualify by experience, you must be able to document:

  • A high school education or equivalency and
  • Three years of experience as a service employee of a licensee that performs pest control in any category or categories in which you are seeking certification. At least one of these years must have been under a licensee in Florida and must immediately precede your application for examination.
Education

To qualify through education, you must be able to document:

  • A degree and 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours in entomology, botany, agronomy or horticulture from a recognized college or university.
  • One year of experience as a service employee of a Florida licensee that performs pest control in any category or categories in which you are seeking certification.

Note: If your education is in entomology, you are qualified for examination in all categories. If your education is in horticulture, botany or agronomy, you are qualified for examination only in the category of Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control.

Use Organic Lawn Fertilizers

Organic lawn fertilizers are another effective way to give your lawn an occasional boost during the growing season. Available at most garden centers, the best organic lawn fertilizers contain natural ingredients such as seaweed for potassium, bone meal for phosphorous, and feather meal for nitrogen.

Unlike conventional fertilizers, which deliver a heavy, instant dose of synthetic nitrogen for your lawn to binge on, Turkey says organics provide an easier-to-handle diet of nutrients that are released more slowly.

The thicker your grass, the more easily it can crowd out weeds. So once your soil’s been treated, overseed the lawn using an appropriate turf grass . Choose a seed mix that suits your climate, sun/shade conditions, and moisture needs, and make sure it blends well with your existing lawn. Water daily until new growth is established.

Related

The Complete Guide to Lawn Fertilizer Services

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How Do I Get Certified

State, territorial, and tribal authorities certify applicators. You must be certified in each state, territory, and area of Indian country where you make RUP applications. Check to see if they have requirements that are stricter than the federal requirements. For example, many states require all commercial applicators, not only those using RUPs, to be certified.

If you are going to apply RUPs in

When Working With Large Operations:

Why Get Landscape Industry Certified?

If you are working with a national organization, its highly likely they have the proper local licenses in place.

Heres the Deal:I would strongly encourage asking to the see the certificationfor the actual applicator conducting the services at your property.

Many large scale organizations have high turnover and do not keep their employees long. I have spoken with many customers over the years about their experiences working with large scale companies. In many cases, they would see 4 or 5 different applicators in a given year.

It is often the case that a new technician will be hired and begin training to pass the applicator test. In many cases he will not remain with the company long enough to get the certification card.

The company will then hire another tech, throw him out in the field, and the cycle continues.

Having a licensed applicator is just as critical, as the company being properly licensed. The technician at your property is actually performing the work, it is imperativethat he has been trained on proper safety and application and that he be verified by your state.

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Start With A Soil Test

The first step in going the organic route with an existing lawn is beefing up weakened soil, which means starting with a soil test. That way you’ll know which nutrients are lacking and which organic amendments you’ll need to incorporate. For example, soil with a calcium deficiency can be top-dressed with gypsum and soil low in magnesium might need a healthy dose of the mineral langbeinite.

You will need to dig up samples from several different areas of your lawn , and mail them off to a lab to be analyzed. Call local nurseries and university extension offices to see if they offer soil tests .

Once you know which amendments you need, you should prepare the lawn by mowing the grass down to about 2 inches, pulling up weeds, removing thatch , and aerating . This will enable your soil to fully absorb any amendments you add.

Does A Lawn Care Businessneed An Applicators License To Spray Roundup

If a customer asks you to spray any sort of lawn chemical, you should seriously consider calling your local Agricultural Extension office to check licensing requirements in your area. The Environmental Protection Agency is becoming more diligent in verifying the qualifications of commercial application of chemicals by lawn care and landscaping companies.

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How To Start A Yard Spraying Company

Lawn-spraying companies treat commercial and residential lawns with fertilizer and pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or insecticides to eliminate weeds and pests and improve the health of the lawn. Sprayers must have an in-depth knowledge about turf ecology and treatment and local regulations on chemical use. An entrepreneur equipped with a wide knowledge of lawn care could do well to start his own lawn-spraying company.

Contact your states Department of Agriculture to learn what certifications and permits must be obtained prior to opening a pesticide control business. Generally, anyone who applies pesticides for commercial purpose must obtain a permit. Depending on the state, you may be required to have two years of on-the-job training or a four-year degree in horticulture or a related field.

Obtain the necessary skills or experience needed to become eligible for an applicator license. In addition to lawn care and organic alternatives, you will need to understand the risks of pesticide usage, such as water contamination, how it may affect endangered species, spills and worker safety. The Professional Landcare Network offers six relevant certifications, including Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Manager. Enroll in a state-approved training course, if necessary. Submit an application for a pesticide applicator license to your Department of Agriculture, along with any fees. Obtain a business license and liability insurance.

Tips

References

Landscaper Licensing Requirements By State

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  • Landscaper Licensing Requirements by State
  • Whether you are just starting off in the industry of landscaping or you are a seasoned professional, there are many aspects to learn in the landscaping business. If you have not been involved in the landscaping business for long, then you may be wondering how lucrative the business of landscaping even is.

    Lawn care and landscaping is a huge industry, earning over $90 million each year. Starting a landscaping business can include anything from lawn care to flower bed maintenance, snow and ice management, or even commercial landscaping. Unsurprisingly, commercial landscaping actually makes up the largest portion of landscaping revenue and brings in $70 million dollars annually. This is typically due to businesses having larger budgets to spend on landscaping.

    If you are considering starting your own landscaping business, then you have most likely learned all of the necessary skills required to actually do the work. Despite this, being a good landscaper is not the only component of a business.

    Another important and crucial aspect of starting a landscaping business is licensing and insurance. These licenses vary between states, and there are also different requirements one must fulfill based upon the certain types of work you plan to perform.

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    How To Start A Landscaping Business In New York

    You must complete certain steps in order to start your landscaping company in New York. Your New York landscaping or lawn care business could include gardening, lawn mowing, leaf removal, excavation, tree work, and more. You can find the links to help get your new landscaping business registered in New York below. You must do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly.

    Getting started The state of New York has a website about starting a business here:

    Lawn Care Technician Training

    Related

    Lawn care technicians do far more than just mow grass. Certified lawn care technicians know about the best types of grasses for specific regions, are cognizant of environmental considerations, apply pesticides and herbicides, and might supervise other workers. While some people engaging in lawn care have only on-the-job training, many lawn care companies prefer to hire workers with formal training and certification. If you want to start your own lawn care business, certification is important.

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    Getting Creative With Grass

    You do not necessarily have to have a neatly cut fine sward with immaculate stripes. With a little imagination the appearance of the lawn can be transformed by mowing it differently, and perhaps cutting it to varying lengths You do not necessarily have to have a neatly cut fine sward with immaculate stripes. With a little imagination the appearance of the lawn can be transformed by mowing it differently, and perhaps cutting it to varying lengths.

    Look For A ‘greener’ Grass

    How to Diagnose and Repair A Lawnmower , Certified 174CC from Canadian Tire

    You can make your lawn even more sustainable by overseeding it, or completely replacing it, with native or organic grass seed. Las year, DLF Organic became the first U.S. company to offer USDA-certified organic lawn seed, grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.

    The company offers three seed mixes: one for sun, one for shade, and one that’s mixed with nitrogen-providing clover. Another “green” option is using native turf-grass seed. Since these seeds are familiar with their regional soil conditions and average rain fall, they require less water and are more disease-resistant than non-natives, such as Kentucky bluegrass and St. Augustine grass .

    The best known is buffalograss. a native prairie grass that extremely drought-resistant and, since it’s low-growing, only needs to be mowed about once a month.

    Researchers at a few universities throughout the U.S. are exploring the potential of other native grasses for use as turf grass, including blue grama, a warm-season grass thats native to the Great Plains and Southwest, and Idaho bentgrass, which is native to the western United States and shows promise as a sustainable turf in dryer climate.

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    Lawn Care Technician Job Description Sample

    With this Lawn Care Technician job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember though, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for their Lawn Care Technician position.

    Summary

    We are looking for a dependable, hardworking Lawn Care Technician to join our landscaping company. Your duties will involve lawn maintenance, including mowing, aerating, and weeding. You may also be asked to apply fertilizers or assist with pest control. You must know a variety of know lawn care tools and techniques and be able to take direction. We expect all of our team members to provide excellent customer service to our clients at all times.

    Duties and Responsibilities

    • Make recommendations for lawn maintenance

    Requirements and Qualifications

    • High school diploma or GED certificate
    • Pesticide certification a plus
    • Valid drivers license and reliable transportation
    • Physical stamina

    Find Out The Best Height For The Grass Youre Growing

    Pro2Pro Tip: Be sure to mow with a mulching attachment or a mulching reel mower and leave the clippings where they fall theyre a natural source of nitrogen as they decompose.

    Cut it too short and it doesn’t develop the strong, healthy roots it needs to fend off weeds and disease. So find out the best height for the type of turf you’re growing.

    • Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue, prefer to be between 3 to 4 inches high
    • Warm-season varieties like Bermuda grass can be maintained at 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

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    Tree Trimmer Salary And Outlook

    Tree trimmers and pruners averaged â$42,510â per year, or â$20.44â, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2019. Ten percent of these workers annually earned upwards of â$62,390â, but 10 percent earned less than â$26,450â. The BLS includes tree trimmers in the broader category of grounds maintenance workers, and this occupation will grow 10 percent between 2019 and 2029, according to BLS projections. Demand will be supported by urbanization and tree plantings to beautify communities.

    References

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