Horticulture

Horticulturists are individuals who identify, propagate and maintain plants. They also design, install and maintain landscapes and irrigation systems. Diablo Valley College's horticulture program prepares students for all aspects of work in what is often referred to as the green industry.

The horticulture department offers four certificates of achievement in the field:

• The horticulture certificate prepares students for careers as wholesale and retail nursery persons and pest management technicians.

• The landscape maintenance certificate prepares students for careers as commercial and residential maintenance technicians.

• The landscape construction certificate prepares students for landscape and irrigation installation careers.

• The landscape design certificate prepares students to work for and with contractors and landscape architects.

Students will learn about:

• basic botany

• plant propagation/production

• plant identification and use

• pruning practices/arboriculture

• adaptive horticulture

• plant pests and diseases

• integrated pest management

• landscape design and construction

• landscape irrigation

• soil and water management

• turf management

• natural landscape environments

• plant taxonomy

• greenhouse management