Course Description

Horticulture is a two, three, or four year competency based course designed to train students in the growing of plants in a greenhouse environment, arranging cut flowers, making corsages, planning floral arrangements for weddings, landscaping and ground maintenance. Students study the growing and marketing of cut flowers and potted plants. Because of economic importance of horticulture, a major portion of the time is devoted to learning propagation, culture, and management of floral crops. A container nursery has been added for student use and basic instructions in the principles of landscape design are presented.

The student learns how to design, establish, and maintain plant materials. Floral design provides the student with ways to use plant materials, harmonizing color, flowers and foliage types, as well as the containers so that attractive arrangements can be made. Cut, silk, and dried flowers are used in the arrangement. Actual wedding flower arrangements are made by the class. Interior plant care is also taught. Both maintenance and establishment of lawns, as well as landscaping homes and businesses are taught. The principles for design are taught along with plant identification, budgeting, and cultivation procedures. Students have access to a classroom, a greenhouse, a laboratory nursery, an experimental turf plot, and horticultural establishments.

Skills Learned

Some skills this program teaches are: propagation of plants, soil testing, insecticide application, small engine repair, floral arrangements design, small shrub maintenance, growing plants, designing plants, designing landscapes, utilizing special types of equipment, seeding a lawn, and maintaining a greenhouse.

Related Occupations and Earnings

Related occupations include floral wholesale, floral design, greenhouse labor, garden center sales, equipment sales and landscaping. Other career choices are golf course groundskeeper, turf chemical application, and also landscape design. Earnings start around $11/hour.

Post-Secondary Opportunities:

Students may choose to continue their education at institutions such as Penn State University, West Virginia University and Westmoreland/Allegheny Community Colleges.

Instructor:

Mrs. Huth – Horticulture & Landscaping
Phone Number – 724-925-3532 x. 1321
Office Hours: 7:15am to 7:45am
10:45am to 10:55am
2:30pm to 2:45pm
Please leave a voicemail message outside of these times.