Are you working for a landscaping, horticultural, or golf course greenskeeping company? The next thing you need to ensure your career is on the right track is to complete an apprenticeship -- and get your papers -- as a Horticultural Technician.

 

Program Highlights

The in-school segments of the apprenticeship training are held during an 8-week period during February and March (Basic Program) and a 12-week period, January to March (Advanced Program). This schedule is designed to work around your employment in the spring and summer months. Areas of study will include:

• Personal safety
• Trade calculations and blueprints
• Communications
• Safe operation of hand and power tools and equipment
• Botany
• Turf management
• Soils, fertilizers and planting techniques
• Disease and pest control
• Landscape design
• Irrigation
• Masonry paths and walls
• Golf course construction and maintenance
• Marketing and estimating

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Our team of instructors work in the horticultural industry, and are enthusiastic about sharing their experience and knowledge with apprentices.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

Having found an employer to hire you and sponsor your apprenticeship training, you'll want to consider the following abilities and personal qualities as helpful assets in your education and continuing career:

• good physical condition
• enjoy working outdoors
• good people skills
• the ability to work as part of a team or independently
• self-motivation/discipline
• creativity
• good communication skills

 

Career Opportunities

As a Horticultural Technician you will be able to work for landscaping, horticultural, or greenskeeping companies, municipalities, provincial parks, and more. You may also decide to pursue self-employment and set up your own business.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD or equivalent.

To participate in an apprenticeship program, you must be employed and a registered apprentice. Contact your local Apprenticeship office to determine your eligibility to enter this trade.

You will work with your employer before and afterward to complete your apprenticeship training of 4,500 hours (which usually takes between two and three years).

 

Selection Process

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Irrigation	24.00
Landscape Construction II	84.00
Plan Reading and Quantity Takeoff	24.00
Plant Identification II	36.00
Plant Materials II	24.00
Plant Production	48.00
Plant Propagation	48.00
Site Layout and Grading	24.00
Turf Management II	36.00

Semester 1

Irrigation

Course Number: FSTY020

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of irrigation practices and systems including water quality and plant water requirements.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Landscape Construction II

Course Number: FSTY022

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of the construction of natural stone landscape surfaces and walls, of the construction of concrete surfaces and walls: and of the construction of wooden landscape features.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00

Plan Reading and Quantity Takeoff

Course Number: AUTM036

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of construction plans and specifications interpretation and quantity surveying techniques.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Plant Identification II

Course Number: FSTY034

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate the ability to identify an additional 120 landscape plants, using the proper nomenclature and stating the cultural requirements of each. (This is a continuation of Unit 1.4)

Units: 36.00
Hours: 36.00

Plant Materials II

Course Number: FSTY037

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of digging/transplanting techniques, including aftercare, and of pruning techniques for all types of plant materials.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Plant Production

Course Number: FSTY038

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of plant production from potting/lining out to sale/installation on site.

Units: 48.00
Hours: 48.00

Plant Propagation

Course Number: FSTY039

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of plant propagation by seeding, cuttings, grafting, layering and division techniques.

Units: 48.00
Hours: 48.00

Site Layout and Grading

Course Number: FSTY045

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of construction plan layout processes, including the placement and use of grading control devices.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Turf Management II

Course Number: FSTY053

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of turfgrass establishment and cultivation practices typically used in landscape construction, and grounds/golf course maintenance operations.

Units: 36.00
Hours: 36.00