Program Overview
One of the fastest-growing career industries in Ontario.
A Horticulture Technician provides product and service expertise with landscape design and construction including grounds maintenance. The landscape technician is trained to operate and run greenhouses and manage retail garden centres including the care of interior plants in commercial complexes.
This program will appeal to those with a passion for design, growing and caring for plants, as well as a strong interest in nature and environmental issues. Every day is Earth Day.
Program Highlights
- More summer and graduate job opportunities than the number of students, year after year.
- Students work with the College on grounds maintenance and plant installation on the College's 110-acre arboretum where there is a wide spectrum of exotic botanical plants.
- The Horticulture Team has achieved Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in the Canada/Skills Landscaping Gardening Competition.
- Strong community involvement assisting with design solutions for community and municipal projects.
- Students will be prepared to pursue Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Industry Certified Technician Exam, and also receive training for certification in Pesticides (Technician and Exterminator), Front End Loader/Skid Steer Operator and Chainsaw Certification.
- Summer paid employment opportunities exist on campus for Landscape students.
Career Opportunities
Typical entry-level positions range from project estimator and designer to managerial roles. Positions exist with landscape construction companies, design/build companies including, paving, planting, irrigation, and maintenance. Those completing the program also have the skills and knowledge to start their own landscaping business to managerial roles.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with the majority of courses at the College (C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level qualify for admission to this program.
Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Program Physical Demands Analysis
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Horticulture Technician - Landscape (Ontario College Diploma) (MTCU Code 53905)
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Apply the principles of plant and soil sciences to complete work in horticulture.
- Apply practical horticulture skills to the production of plant materials, including herbaceous plants, woody plants, and turf.
- Apply the principles of design to horticulture.
- Apply basic installation and construction principles and practical skills to horticulture.
- Implement maintenance procedures for plants, property, and equipment.
- Utilize knowledge of plant identification, usage, and maintenance criteria.
- Recognize the potential environmental effects of projects and the need to avoid environmental damage and promote healthier ecosystems.
- Apply the principles and practical skills of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to indoor and outdoor plants.
- Contribute to the effective planning, implementation, and conclusion of projects.
- Use safe working practices.
- Use business practices appropriate to the horticulture industry.
- Act in a professional manner, maintain professional relationships, and communicate effectively with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others.
- Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance and career opportunities and to keep pace with industry changes.
Horticulture Technician (Ontario College Diploma) (MTCU Code 53905) - Effective September 2025
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Prepare soil according to the type of plants, how they interact in a variety of environments, and the maintenance required to ensure the viability of crops.
- Perform maintenance of plant species utilizing economic, social, and environmental horticulture practices.
- Participate in the design, preparation, planting, and maintenance of horticultural displays that meet the project needs.
- Perform installations and constructions according to the horticultural setting and goal.
- Implement proactive and restorative maintenance procedures for plants, property, landscapes, and equipment.
- Identify plants and plant care requirements for a variety of settings and purposes.
- Recognize the potential environmental impacts of projects to prevent environmental damage, promote and maintain healthy interconnected ecosystems.
- Prepare an Integrated Pest Management plan to prevent, monitor and control insect infestation or disease found on the plants.
- Contribute to the effective planning, implementation, and conclusion of horticultural projects and crop production.
- Adhere to Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to this work.
- Manage inventory to ensure products and services are available to meet operational needs.
- Act in a professional manner, maintain professional relationships, and communicate effectively with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others.
- Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance and career opportunities, and to keep pace with industry changes.
- Act with respect for and reflect on Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing as they relate to horticulture.