Arboriculture

An arborist is a professional who cares for trees and other woody plants by pruning, fertilizing, monitoring for disease and insects, and at times consulting on removal of trees and other tree-related issues.

The arboriculture sector can be busy year-round, with peaks during the winter months when storms and weather cause damage to trees.

Floriculture

Explore careers in floriculture, or flower farming. This sector of horticulture is a multi-million-dollar international business; with a focus on the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens, and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. An exciting component of the work is the development via plant breeding, of new varieties. There are many different types of jobs within the sector; greenhouse production, sales, shipping, pest management propagation and much more.

Landscaping

Have an impact creating and maintaining green spaces that beautify cities and improve quality of life. This industry offers a variety of specialty areas including design, installation, construction, maintenance, plant health care, green infrastructure, interiorscape, and irrigation. Positions range from technician to supervisory to management level in focus.

The landscape sector of horticulture is busy from late February to the end of November (weather dependent), and can be busy year-round depending on the weather.

Nursery and Greenhouse Growing

A grower in the ornamental industry can focus on growing a finished plant from plugs and cuttings or focus on the actual propagation (breeding plants from parent stock) of these plants. It includes the art of watching young plants root and then grow into their finished state and ready for sale by pruning, fertilizing and scouting for pests and disease.

The grower sector ramps up in mid-late February for a very busy spring season. This busy season can continue well into late summer and fall, depending on weather and the crops being grown.

Turf and Golf

A diploma or degree in turfgrass management is the best way to become a golf course superintendent. Typical roles and responsibilities include working outdoors, landscaping, fertilizer application, horticulture, irrigation, human resource management, project management and administration. A career as a golf course superintendent offers infinite possibilities.

The golf and turf sector of horticulture is busy from late February to the end of November (weather-dependent). Operations start to build to welcome individuals to the courses and field by early March.