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