Opportunities in horticulture provide responsibility, challenge, achievement, satisfaction, personal growth, and financial reward. For many professionals in the industry, the opportunity to work with nature is the most important reward. Growing trees, shrubs, and other plants, touches nearly every aspect of human life.

Prospects

Job Descriptions

Preparing for a Career in Horticulture

Scholarship Opportunities

Career Prospects in Horticulture

The American Nursery & Landscape Association predicts that its industry will continue to have attractive openings for a wide range of college graduates, and many technical or two-year school students.

A career in Horticulture provides you with the opportunity to work with natural products that protect and improve the environment. Research shows that, among many benefits, plants help purify our air and water, they guard against erosion, and provide shelter, warmth, cooling effects, windbreaks, food, and beauty.

Current research even tells us that beautiful natural views enhance our well-being. Professionals in the nursery/landscape industry bring these benefits to the public in a variety of ways. For potential horticultural careers, a wide variety of interests and educational/employment experience is valuable to the industry. Just to name a few: agricultural sciences, business administration, biology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, soil management, mechanics, marketing, advertising, communications, sales, retailing, landscape design, educational research, packaging, and transportation.

To learn more about possible Horticulture Careers click here.

How to prepare for a Career in Horticulture

Many nursery and landscape managers at all levels learn their skills on the job, advancing as their knowledge and skills grow. Others bring to the job skills they developed while preparing for a different career. And others become skilled through formal educational programs combined with industry employment experience. A good basic knowledge of the growing sciences is an advantage for anyone seeking career success in this industry. Through their horticulture curricula, high schools and vocational centers offer nursery and landscape courses in skill development, an important component at school and in the workplace. Arboreta and public gardens also provide educational programs; at these institutions students earn a certificate instead of a diploma when they complete a program.

A number of junior and community colleges, as well as other schools, offer 2-year associate degree programs. These technical courses apply directly to careers, and they often include field training as well as hands-on experience. Such programs tend to cost less and the school schedules tend to be more flexible; two valuable advantages for students with full or part-time jobs.

Bachelor's degree programs at 4-year universities and colleges offer more opportunities for career and general educational development. Specialties in such areas as nursery management and landscape management, design, or architecture build on a strong foundation in the growing sciences. Other agricultural and plant sciences, as well as business courses, provide more career preparation.

Work or on-the-job experience is also very important. Industry and university partnerships offer part-time summer, co-op and internship opportunities form which students receive invaluable experience, s well as pleasure and income.

To learn more about this field and profession, talk to your local retail nursery/garden center, wholesale nursery, landscape firm, the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association, or extension agent.