Courses

Overview of environmental horticulture: nursery and greenhouse production; landscape design, installation and maintenance. Career opportunities are explored in class and on field trips. Introduction to technical aspects including plant anatomy, soils and amendments, composting, plant propagation, planting and transplanting, irrigation, landscape maintenance, pruning, pests, and tree care.

The principles and practices of garden planting and maintenance will be covered in practical laboratory experiences in the Horticulture Center and on the college campus. Care and maintenance of established gardens; irrigation, fertilizing, pruning, identifying and controlling weeds and plant pests and diseases.

This advanced course prepares the student to install and maintain new and established gardens. Course work will include, but is not limited to irrigation and sprinkler systems, drainage and erosion control, xeriscaping, maintenance estimates, proposals and agreements. Instruction in troubleshooting and supervising others will be included.

Care and management of trees common to residential, public, and commercial landscaping. Emphasizes correct planting, irrigating, fertilizing, pest control, and pruning. Use of saws, ropes, and other safety equipment in the tree industry is covered. Prepares student for the International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Exam.

Field and shop practice in the safe and proper operation of necessary horticultural equipment. Preventative service and maintenance will be stressed during all lab and lecture sessions.

Overview of commercial greenhouse operations including materials and construction, heating and cooling systems, containers and greenhouse equipment. Management of growing medium, irrigation, fertilization, temperature, growth regulators, CO2, and light. Alternative cropping systems, post-production storage and handling discussed. Crops surveyed include foliage, cut flowers, potted flowering plants and bedding plants.

Introduces students to the fundamentals required to run a horticultural enterprise. Addresses issues facing horticultural entrepreneurs as well as management challenges faced in larger horticultural businesses. Emphasis is on landscape-related businesses. Guest speakers from landscape design and construction, landscape maintenance, arboriculture, consulting, restoration management, nursery operations and others.

Introduces students to soils and growing media in environmental horticulture. Preparation and management of field and container soils. Soil composition and texture, soil chemistry, organic matter, colloids, soil structure, soil water and pH, plant nutrients and fertilizers, amendments, composting, beneficial soil organisms and diseases. Sustainable soil management practices.

Principles and practices of reproducing plants as commercially practiced in the horticulture industry. Topics include propagation by seed, and vegetative methods including cuttings, layering, division, grafting and micro-propagation. Field trips to local greenhouses and nursery operations.

Basics of design, installation and maintenance of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems for nurseries, greenhouses and landscapes. Topics include establishing hydrozones, backflow prevention, calculating pressure and flow requirements, system design and installation, equipment and fittings, automatic control systems and water conservation technologies.

Lectures, reading assignments, and hands-on laboratory projects involving the principles of landscape design, especially as applied to residential properties. Graphic and drafting techniques are included.

The principles of advanced landscape design especially as applied to residential properties including lectures, field trips, and hands-on laboratory projects using hand drawing techniques and computer programs.

Principles of landscape construction applicable to horticulture. Safety, tools, hardware, lumber, fences, gates, benches, decks, steps, paints, stains, concrete paving, concrete blocks, stone walls, and other physical aspects of landscape construction are presented.

Advanced principles of construction for the landscape from design to installation. Advanced irrigation projects involving copper pipe cutting, prepping and soldering. Irrigation valve placement and means of back-flow prevention. Irrigation clock wiring design and installation. Designing and building fences, gates, benches, decks and steps. Advanced concrete and masonry projects.

An overview of pest management in landscape, greenhouse, and nursery operations. Identification and analysis of damage related to weeds, insects, mites, fungi, bacteria, virus, mollusks, nematodes and mammal pests. Emphasis on Integrated Pest Management. Cultural, mechanical, biological and least-toxic chemical techniques, legal requirements, and safety. This course provides preparation for the Qualified Applicator Certificate.

Identification of approximately 150 ornamental plants commonly used in San Francisco Bay Area Landscapes for Fall and Winter bloom, fruit, or foliage. This course covers basic plant anatomy and terminology used in the taxonomic classification of plants. Emphasis is on cultural requirements, habits of growth and horticultural use of plants.

Identification of approximately 150 ornamental plants commonly used in the San Francisco Bay Area for Spring and Summer bloom, fruit, or foliage. Covers basic plant anatomy and terminology used in the taxonomic classification of plants. Emphasis is on cultural requirements, habits of growth and landscape use of plants.

Individual research on a special topic in environmental horticulture. Opportunity for students to investigate horticultural problems of special interest or conduct an in-depth project. Emphasis on practical application and current issues in horticulture.

Individual research on a special topic in environmental horticulture. Opportunity for students to investigate horticultural problems of special interest or conduct an in-depth project. Emphasis on practical application and current issues in horticulture.

Independent research on a special topic in environmental horticulture. Opportunity to investigate horticultural problems of special interest or conduct an in-depth project. Emphasis on practical application and current issues in horticulture.

Field application of principles taught in horticulture classes. A supervised work experience program with cooperating employers, providing hands-on experience and transition into commercial practice. Students acquire job experience, career development skills and practical workplace skills related to their chosen field of horticulture. Preparation of portfolios and resumes. One unit of credit is earned for 54 hours of unpaid or paid work.

Topics include basic tools, soil, composting, planning a garden adapted to microclimates, plant selection, seed germination, transplanting, watering and water conservation, integrated pest management, maintenance and pruning. Plants discussed will include annuals, bulbs, perennials, groundcovers, lawns, shrubs, trees, vegetables, drought tolerant plants, and houseplants. Appropriate for all interested in gardening.

Includes selecting and planting colorful, harmonious combinations of annuals, perennials shrubs and trees. Multicolored planters will be created in class. A selected garden with vivid year round color will be visited.

Cultural needs of individual orchids, including materials needed and how to grow, pot, divide and water many different kinds of orchids. Troublesome ailments, diseases, and pests coupled with solutions and cures.

Introduction to use and care of landscape container plantings, design considerations, container types, installation and maintenance practices unique to container culture. Choosing plant materials well suited to use in containers, for commercial and residential settings will be covered.

Theory and practice of water conservation in the landscape through the use of drought tolerant plants, efficient irrigation and appropriate design.