Horticulture

Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst will award 3 free credits to any graduate of the Taconic High School Horticulture program who is accepted to a Stockbridge bachelor degree program.

Overview

Students in the Horticulture program gain knowledge and skills related to botany, integrated pest management, Arboriculture, plant propagation and soil science. Topics covered include landscape design, drafting and maintenance, entomology, plant pathology, plant identification, greenhouse management, and safety regulations. During their time in the program, students will gain hands-on experience completing projects on school property and in the wider community, including plantings, pruning, cleanup, maintenance and construction. After graduation, students will be prepared to enter the workforce in a wide variety of jobs, including lawn care, landscaping, landscape construction, tree care, the greenhouse industry and floral design. Students may also elect to continue their education at a two or four year college and major in such programs as landscaping, turfgrass management, arboriculture, or sustainable agriculture.

This program provides students with instruction in plant identification, flower arranging, basic greenhouse operation, garden maintenance, and retail and wholesale marketing. The program includes instruction and hands-on training in growing and maintaining trees and shrubs, annual flowers and vegetable plants. Students will learn the use of the various types of tools and equipment, and structures unique to horticulture and landscaping.

Horticulture offers multiple concentrations of study: horticulture, arboriculture and landscape gardening. Students receive an introduction to each field of study. In each area, students learn the use of various tools, equipment, and the structures unique to horticulture, arboriculture and landscaping.

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VTE Framework: Horticulture

Grade 9

“Career Exploratory” 9th graders learn about the various jobs and fields in Horticulture. These jobs and fields include Arboriculture (the art and science of tree care), landscape design, construction and maintenance, greenhouse management and crop production. Students will walk away with a basic understanding plant anatomy as well as a greater understanding of the natural world as a whole. Safety and proper equipment usage is stressed.

Grade 10

Sophomores in the Horticulture program begin to build a foundation of knowledge and skills. Safety is the top concern; students complete the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-Hour Safety Course. This course covers many safety topics in the Horticulture field including electrical hazards, machine safety and fire safety. Completion of this course results in an OSHA 10-Hour Safety Certificate. Students will learn the basics of plant anatomy and physiology, plant identification, plant selection, entomology, plant pathology and other related topics. Students will complete a number of projects around the school and the community. Projects include garden maintenance, plantings, greenhouse plant production, floral design and landscape construction. Guest speakers from the industry and field trips will occur regularly.

Grade 11

Juniors in the Horticulture program will expand upon their acquired knowledge and skills. A landscape drafting and design unit will allow students to utilize their knowledge of plant and building materials, as well as learn the valuable skills of measuring, mapping and drafting. Plant identification and selection will continue to be a major part of the program, as knowledge of plant material is essential to success in the field. Students will learn about Integrated Pest Management, the tree care industry, turf grass management, floriculture and other related industries and topics. Projects, guest speakers and field trips will be a mainstay.

Juniors in the Horticulture program will expand upon their acquired knowledge and skills. A landscape drafting and design unit will allow students to utilize their knowledge of plant and building materials, as well as learn the valuable skills of measuring, mapping and drafting. Plant identification and selection will continue to be a major part of the program, as knowledge of plant material is essential to success in the field. Students will learn about Integrated Pest Management, the tree care industry, turf grass management, floriculture and other related industries and topics. Projects, guest speakers and field trips will be a mainstay.

Grade 12

Seniors in good academic standing in the Horticulture program will have an opportunity to participate in the cooperative education program. Students may be offered the opportunity to apprentice in a paid off-campus position through cooperative education, and an opportunity to master their knowledge and skills in a professional workplace. While in the classroom, soil nutrition, fertilization, entomology, plant pathology and other applicable topics will be covered. Guest speakers, field trips and projects around the school will occur regularly.

Training/Skills You Will Learn

• Plant identification and selection
• Many aspects of plant maintenance and plant health care
• Integrated Pest Management
  
  
  

Career Opportunities

Horticulture Staff