Horticulture

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 instruction 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 ND 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, two greenhouses, a laboratory nursery, an experimental turf plot, and horticultural establishments.

Horticulture is a specialized curriculum designed to prepare students to be desirable, prospective employees of nurseries, greenhouses, florists or landscape businesses.


Units of Study

First year students are exposed to all areas of instruction including greenhouse crop propagation, floral design, landscape design, and also horticulture mechanics in nine-week blocks. Shop and industry safe practices are integral and include machinery use, pesticide and chemical handling, and personal safety. Returning students continue to deepen their understanding and experiences in these curricular areas, sometimes specializing in their chosen career as they work toward a cooperative education job.


Grading Procedures

The grades are based on 35% classroom theory, lectures, bookwork, tests, quizzes, and 65% actual work experience.


Suggested Related Courses

The suggested related courses are; basic math, general science courses, biology, business courses, and drafting of basic drawing courses.


Student Costs

The only equipment students will have to pay for is the work clothes. FFA club dues are a part of the shop activities, fundraising helps support this and other activity fees.


Some Related Occupations

Careers that graduates have advanced to 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. Some graduates enroll in a two year post secondary horticulture program such as WCCC. Four year horticulture degrees are also a possibility.


Some Skills You Will Learn

Some skills this shop 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.


For More Informations

Contact either the home school counselor or the CWCTC counselor at (724) 925-3532.

OR attend the CWCTC assemblies, & the CWCTC tours for interested students on the CWCTC open house.