Horticultural Technician Apprentice - Basic

 

Are you working for a landscaping, horticultural, or golf course greenskeeping company? The next thing you need to ensure your career is on the right track is to complete an apprenticeship -- and get your papers -- as a Horticultural Technician.

 

Program Highlights

The in-school segments of the apprenticeship training are held during an 8-week period during February and March (Basic Program) and a 12-week period, January to March (Advanced Program). This schedule is designed to work around your employment in the spring and summer months. Areas of study will include:

• Personal safety
• Trade calculations and blueprints
• Communications
• Safe operation of hand and power tools and equipment
• Botany
• Turf management
• Soils, fertilizers and planting techniques
• Disease and pest control
• Landscape design
• Irrigation
• Masonry paths and walls
• Golf course construction and maintenance
• Marketing and estimating

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Our team of instructors work in the horticultural industry, and are enthusiastic about sharing their experience and knowledge with apprentices.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

Having found an employer to hire you and sponsor your apprenticeship training, you'll want to consider the following abilities and personal qualities as helpful assets in your education and continuing career:

• good physical condition
• enjoy working outdoors
• good people skills
• the ability to work as part of a team or independently
• self motivation/discipline
• creativity
• good communication skills

 

Career Opportunities

As a Horticultural Technician you will be able to work for landscaping, horticultural, or greenskeeping companies, municipalities, provincial parks, and more. You may also decide to pursue self-employment and set up your own business.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD or equivalent.

To participate in an apprenticeship program, you must be employed and a registered apprentice. Contact your local Apprenticeship office to determine your eligibility to enter this trade.

You will work with your employer before and afterward to complete your apprenticeship training of 4,500 hours (which usually takes between two and three years).

 

Selection Process

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Equipment Maintenance	18.00
Landscape Construction I	33.00
Pest Control	48.00
Plant Identification I	24.00
Plant Materials I	24.00
Plant Science	15.00
Trade Calculations	33.00
Turf Management I	15.00
Workplace Communications	15.00
Workplace Safety	15.00

Semester 1

Equipment Maintenance

Course Number: MECH021

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of basic scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance procedures for powered landscape equipment.

Units: 18.00
Hours: 18.00

Landscape Construction I

Course Number: FSTY021

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of the handling and installation of modular precast landscape paving and wall units and landscape timber wall components.

Units: 33.00
Hours: 33.00

Pest Control

Course Number: FIWI024

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate the ability to manage pests and disorders of plant material, including turf, by identifying the problem, by prescribing, preparing and applying control measures, and monitoring effectiveness. This unit prepares the apprentice to take Province of Ontario Pesticide licensing examinations.

Units: 48.00
Hours: 48.00

Plant Identification I

Course Number: FSTY033

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate the ability to identify 80 ornamental landscape plants, using the proper nomenclature and stating the cultural requirements for each.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Plant Materials I

Course Number: FSTY036

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of grounds maintenance practices and procedures, including the installation/transplanting processes for nursery stock, particularly annuals, woody and herbaceous perennials and groundcovers.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Plant Science

Course Number: FSTY040

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of plant biology, soil structure and quality, the plant-soil relationship, and fertilizer composition and use for transplanting purposes.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Trade Calculations

Course Number: MATH031

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate the ability to accurately perform all calculations typically used in the horticulture industry, including the use of standard measuring devices and surveying equipment.

Units: 33.00
Hours: 33.00

Turf Management I

Course Number: FSTY052

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of turfgrass mowing and fertilizing practices, including monitoring turfgrass quality.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Workplace Communications

Course Number: COMM037

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate oral, written and hand communication skills necessary to function effectively as part of a crew/team in the workplace, and to prepare one's self for advancement in the industry.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Workplace Safety

Course Number: NATR006

General Learning Objective: Demonstrate a working knowledge of pertinent safety legislation and safe workplace practices: and deal with on-site conditions, emergencies and hazards.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00