Careers In Horticulture

1. Careers In Horticulture Unit 1

2. Objectives • What is the scope, size, and economic importance of Horticulture in the US? • What are 5 careers in the horticulture industry? • What local jobs are available in the horticulture industry and what skills are needed for the job?

3. What is Horticulture? • The horticulture industry has developed far beyond the simple definition of “garden cultivation” • It includes cultivation, processing, and sale of fruits, nuts, vegetables, ornamental plants, and flowers • It contributes over $35 billion to the US economy every year.

4. Horticulture Broken Down • Pomology – the science and practice of growing, harvesting, handling, storing, processing, and marketing tree fruits • Olericulture – the science and practice of growing, harvesting, storing, processing, and marketing vegetables • Floriculture – The science and practice of growing, harvesting, storing, designing, and marketing flowering plants • Landscape and Nursery Industry – The science and practice of propagating, growing, installing, maintaining, and using grasses, annual plants, shrubs, and trees in the landscape

5. Jobs in Hort. • There are various sources of employment for individuals trained in horticulture. • Greenhouses, nurseries, garden centers, golf courses, parks, orchards, floral design shops, grounds maintenance operations, and vegetable & fruit growers • Page 4 – Job Chart • Compare the different jobs

6. Greenhouse Employee • Grows plants in a heated greenhouse • May grow vegetables or flowers • Usually grow out-of-season vegetables • Most work is done indoors • High school education is preferred

7. Nursery Employee • Grows seedlings and plants for landscaping, fruit production and replanting forests • Prepare seedbeds; plant seedlings; prepare cuttings for rooting; and weed, cultivate, water, and prune plants • Much outdoor work • Ability to identify plants and the knowledge of how plants are used in landscapes is desirable • High School education

8. Garden Center Employee • Cares for ornamental plants, moves plants and supplies into selling areas, arranges plants and supplies for display purposes and sells various products • Work includes cleaning, stocking, arranging garden supplies on shelves, etc. • Usually work in a clean pleasant and comfortable environment • High school education desired

9. Maintenance Employee • Cares for the area surrounding an industry, business, school, etc. • Plant and care for lawns and ornamental plants • Works mainly outdoors • Certain jobs must be done in severe weather conditions • Demand for HS graduates specializing in this area is increasing

10. Golf Course Employee • Responsible for overall maintenance of golf courses • Care for different types of turf • Install and use irrigation and drainage equipment • Also prune shrubs and trees • Almost always outdoor work and usually in good weather • High school education minimum

11. City, State, or National Park Employee • Maintain trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns • General Maintenance tasks are also done • Outdoors mostly some in bad weather • High school education is desirable

12. Facts • Approximately 32% of all teachers and scientists in the US Dept of Ag & various colleges of Ag will retire in the next few years • Each year there are about 14% more jobs in Ag than there are graduates to fill them • A 4-year college grad will earn about $1,000,000 more during a lifetime career in Hort. than a HS grad.

13. Assignment • Complete Lab Exercise 1-2; 1-3 • Complete Lab Exercise 1-7 as a group to construct a bulletin board