Horticulture Technician HTN
→ First Year - 80% theory, 20% practice
→ Second Year - 20% theory, 80% practice
→ Two co-op terms
→ Students work in an on-campus greenhouse and in the A.M. Cuddy Gardens near Strathroy
Moderate workload
- Eight courses in your first semester
- One hour of study or assignments required for each hour in class
- 25 hours of class(50 hr/week commitment)
Holland Code: R (Realistic)
What academic skills do I need to be successful in the program?
This list does not replace the admission requirements you must have for admission to the program. Please see website for details.
Math & Science Basic math required for measurements. High school courses in Geography, Construction Engineering Technology, Environmental Science, and Horticulture Construction are useful preparation.
Technology Basic computer skills required (Microsoft Office, email, Internet).
What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?
- Strong interest to work with plants
- Creative
- Patient
- An eye for detail
- Enjoy working outside
- Good interpersonal skills to relate to their customers, co-workers, and crew members
- Creative problem solving skills
- Decision making skills
Useful background experience for this program would be
- Working in a horticulture landscape environment
- Having a backyard garden
- Passion for being outside, the environment, being in nature
What kind of work will I do when I graduate?
Graduates of this program may go on to become a
Graduates are employed in all facets of horticulture including landscape and garden construction, landscape and garden maintenance, plant production in greenhouses and nurseries, golf course development and construction, arboriculture and garden centre and horticulture sales. Fanshawe’s Horticulture Technician program is held in high regard by the industry and as such demand for Fanshawe graduates is very high.
Typical working conditions for this kind of work:
- Seasonal/full-time work with long hours in summer months
- Often outdoor work, but could be in a greenhouse, or an office
- Considerable lifting, carrying, and bending
- Exposure to plants, pollen, pesticides and other chemicals
- Working at a height of up to ten metres may be required
Places you may find yourself employed include
Design-build firms, nurseries and greenhouses, golf courses, garden centres, landscaping companies, city park departments, or botanical gardens.
Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace
Landscaping
- Consult with clients on all aspects of landscaping
- Create landscape designs
- Provide advice to customers on plant selection and care
- Prepare the ground for planting
- Identify, plant and transplant greenhouse and nursery stock
- Install rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, retaining walls, fences, planters or playground equipment
- Seed and sod lawns, care for established lawns
- Trim and prune hedges, trees and shrubs
- Identify plant diseases and insect problems
- Apply fertilizers and pesticides
- Install, operate and maintain irrigation systems
- Tree climbing
- Work in all aspects of greenhouse and nursery production
Greenhouse
- Determine the type and quantity of plants to grow or stock (for example, cut or potted flowers, bedding plants, vegetables, plant varieties)
- Determine the environmental conditions required to grow the selected plants and set planting and care schedules accordingly
- Design, install, maintain and program environmental control and irrigation systems
- Perform basic structural repairs to the greenhouse
- Identify and control problems caused by insects, rodents, plant diseases or nutritional deficiencies
- Ensure safe handling, use, storage and disposal of pesticides
- Operate and maintain carbon dioxide generators, ultraviolet sterilizers, water treatment machines and related equipment
- Provide information about plant selection and care
- Keep up to date regarding new technologies and techniques (for example, biological crop protection, water capture and recirculation systems, new plant varieties)
Helpful links for further research into this Fanshawe College program and career opportunity
Professional Credentials and Affiliations associated with this program
- Certified Landscape Technician (CLT)
- Landscape Ontario
- Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA)
- International Society of Aboriculture (ISA)
Opportunities for further development or education
- Credits from advanced diploma may transfer to a university degree at many different schools, as well as the Horticulture technician program at Olds College in Alberta.
Fanshawe’s library has prepared a subject guide for current students in this program. You may find the links and information provided very useful in learning more about this career.
NOC Codes
The National Occupation Classification (NOC) system is used by the Canadian government to provide detailed information on careers. Visit the National Occupation Classification website and use the NOC codes below to learn more about careers associated with this Fanshawe College program. Please note: These codes are listed here for information purposes only. Fanshawe College does not guarantee graduates careers in these fields.
- NOC Code 2225 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
The Canada Job Bank is an excellent resource for labour market information including wages, jobs available and career planning advice.
Career Outlook
Explore Fanshawe Career Coach to learn more about related careers, employment, job postings and current local data on wages.
Last Modified: January 15, 2024