Horticulture
15 months, 1590 hours
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Horticulture is a program offering the student an opportunity to pursue a career interest in any one or combination of the major areas of horticulture: Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance; Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance; Greenhouse Crop Production; and Floral Design. In addition all students will become members of FFA and have an opportunity to benefit from leadership activities.
Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance involves the study of turfgrasses; soil identification and amendment; seasonal lawn maintenance and installation tasks; pest control and the establishment of lawns. This discipline also includes the operation of lawn equipment and small engine repair, preventative maintenance, tune-up procedures, blade sharpening and equipment overhaul.
Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance includes the principles of landscape design; the study and maintenance of ornamental shrubs and trees, perennials, annuals, bulbs, and fruit trees; corrective and seasonal pruning; propagation; the installation of segmental walls, walkways, patios, low voltage lighting and water features; garden installation and equipment operation.
Greenhouse Crop Production includes the study of greenhouse structures and operation; soils; fertilization; propagation; watering; pest control; inventory; crop scheduling and greenhouse crop care and sales.
Students will also be introduced to a aquaponics system. Aquaponics blends together the technology of hydroponics and fish rearing methods of aquaculture. Based upon the nitrogen cycle, the fish produce essential nutrients for the plants, and in turn, the plants filter the water. This sustanable technology allows for organic growing of crpos like lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and corrects.
Floral Design includes the study of floral shop practices; fresh, silk, and dried floral arranging; holiday and special occasion designs, wedding design work, houseplant care, and trends in the floral industry.
Students in the Horticulture program gain invaluable experience by landscaping the grounds of the student built house project, maintaining portions of the campus, creating floral arrangements for customers, working on community service projects, and engaging in the production and sale of bedding plants each spring.
Students in this program should be proficient in the following math skills: calculating with fraction operations, computing linear measurements, computing liquid measurements, computing square feet and cubic dimensions, solving ratio problems, and using basic geometry.
Industry Certifications:
- PA Certified Horticulturist (PCH)
- PA Pesticide Applicator Certification
- OSHA/CareerSafe 10-Hour Certification
Uniforms
Required/Optional Items |
Required Items |
Required Footwear |
Required Safety Gear |
REQUIRED: · Two Forest Green Short Sleeve Tee Shirts with BCTC Logo OPTIONAL: · Charcoal Crewneck Sweatshirt with BCTC Logo · Forest Green Long Sleeve Tee Shirt with BCTC Logo |
· Cotton blue or black jeans – proper fitting and no holes | Work boots (prefer hard tipped) |
Landscape: · Safety glasses provided by BCTC · Ear protection · Work gloves
|
Textbooks
The link provided for each book title will take you to Amazon.com. Please note that you are NOT required to purchase the books from Amazon. You may purchase the books from any vendor.
All Horticulture Students
Introductory Horticulture (9th Edition) – by Carroll Shry and Edward Reiley
ISBN #: 978-1-28542-472-9
Landscaping
Landscaping Principles and Practices (7th Edition) – by Jack Ingels
ISBN #: 978-1-42837-641-0
Residential Design Workbook for Ingels’ Landscaping Principles and Practices (7th Edition) – by Jack Ingels
ISBN #: 978-1-42837-643-4
Greenhouse
The Commercial Greenhouse  (3rd Edition) – by James Boodley and Steven E. Newman
ISBN #: 978-1-41803-079-7
Floral Design
Principles of Floral Design (1st Edition) – by Pat Diehl Scace and James M. DelPrince
ISBN #: 978-1-61960-889-4
Principles of Floral Design (1st Edition) (Workbook) – by Pat Diehl Scace and James M. DelPrince
ISBN #: 978-1-61960-895-5
Tool / Supply / Protective Equipment
Floral Design/ Greenhouse Students | Quantity Needed | Level 1, 2, or 3 | Approximate Cost | Suggested Vendor |
Footwear Requirement: Work boots (prefer hard tipped) | 1 pair | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | TBD | Any store |
Aprons (Provided by BCTC) | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | N/A | N/A |
Floral Wire Cutter | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $5.00 | Any store |
Floral Shears | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $16.00 | Fiskars / Amazon |
All-Purpose Shears | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $10.00 | Wescott |
Landscape/ Turfgrass Students | Quantity Needed | Level 1, 2, or 3 | Approximate Cost | Suggested Vendor |
Footwear Requirement: Work boots (prefer hard tipped) | 1 pair | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | TBD | Any store |
Ear Protection | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $3.00 / pack | Any store |
Bypass Pruning Shears | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $50.00 | Felco #2 / Amazon |
25′ Tape Measure | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $20.00 | Stanley / Amazon |
Work Gloves | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $15.00 | Amazon |
* BCTC will pay for one pair of safety glasses (if required) and may assist with payment for the testing fees or core certification tests (first time only).  Additional safety glasses and testing fees must be paid by the student.
Program Entrance Recommendations:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Algebra I or Geometry
- Problem-solving / troubleshooting skills
- Ability to work independently and in a team
- Hand-eye coordination
- Mechanical aptitude
Career Pathways:
- Nursery Worker
- Floral Designer
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker
- Nursery & Greenhouse Manager
- Horticulture and Nursery Sales