Online Landscaping Technology Courses

The Landscaping Technology Career Diploma program prepares students for an entry-level position in the field of landscape technology.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Classify the four Rs of sustainable development and the 10 principles of sustainable landscaping
• Identify the basic considerations of commercial landscape design
• Explain the steps involved in the residential landscape design process
• Recognize the basic ideas, principles, and themes of landscaping design
• Describe common plant problems and their solutions
• State the four main areas in which professional landscapers work
• Identify the basic skills of a landscaper

In this course, you'll be introduced to the landscaping profession, covering the basic skills of landscaping: design, installation, and maintenance. You’ll learn the methods of landscaping for lawns and nurseries, as well as bed installation, retaining walls, and chemical application. You’ll master the skills needed to recognize and solve common problems of trees, shrubs, beds, and lawns, as well as recognize the elements of commercial and residential landscape design. You’ll also learn about creating environmentally friendly landscapes.

Objectives:

• Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
• Point out the basic skills of landscape designing, installing, and maintenance process

In this course, you'll get an overview of the horticulture industry and the different types of career opportunities the industry offers. You'll explore different plant sciences like the fields of botany, agronomy, and forestry, and how to embark on a horticulture career. You'll also learn about preventing injuries by making sure you're being safe and using tools and equipment effectively and appropriately.

Objectives:

• Recognize different career and specialization opportunities in the horticulture industry
• Explain ways to prevent accidents and promote workplace safety
• Produce a landscape design and plan

As a professional landscaper, you'll be required to evaluate specific locations for possible planting sites. In this graded project, you'll practice real-world skills needed to evaluate planting locations.

Textbook: Horticulture Today

This course provides an overview of garden ecology. First, you'll explore how plants are classified and named. You'll also learn about the different parts of a plant as well as how they grow and reproduce. Then, you'll learn about the different environmental factors that contribute to a plant's growth, including light, temperature, quality of soil, and availability of nutrients. Finally, you'll discover all the different ways you can propagate plants.

Objectives:

• Define the fundamental scientific processes in plant life
• Describe the environmental conditions and nutrients required by plants
• Identify the various alternative measures used to grow plants

Trees and shrubs are amazing living things that are often taken for granted. As a landscape professional, you’ll see trees and shrubs differently. You’ll not only know the differences among species but also appreciate minor differences in the overall form and habit of individual plants. Learning the general morphological (form and structure) characteristics and cultural requirements of a plant family or genus will allow you to learn about more plants in a shorter time.

Objectives:

• Categorize the general characteristics of various plants
• Categorize the general characteristics of various plants
• Analyze the key features of various types of shrubs used in gardens and landscape designing

Textbooks: 

• The Sibley Guide to Trees
• The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook

This course serves as a thorough introduction to the phases of the landscape design process. You'll learn how landscape designers attract and conduct business, survey sites, and design garden plans. You'll explore the various functional elements for the modern garden and how to combine them with the elements and principles of design to create an inviting outdoor space. Xeriscaping and interior plantscaping are also discussed.

Objectives:

• Explain how design elements affect landscaping
• Identify the steps in the pre-design phase of landscape design
• Describe the events in both the design phase and post-design phase of landscape design
• Design a landscaping plan based on client information

As a professional landscaper, you'll be required to evaluate specific locations for possible planting sites. In this graded project, you'll practice real-world skills needed to evaluate planting locations.

Textbook: The Essential Garden Design Workbook

This course, Landscape Construction, Installation, and Maintenance, covers a range of topics. First, you'll review the processes involved in the installation and maintenance of landscapes before learning about turfgrass management. Then, the focus shifts to addressing pests. You'll learn how to create an integrated pest management plan that addresses insects, weeds, and other pests. You'll also learn how to prevent and combat plant disease and use pesticides in a safe manner.

Objectives:

• Explain how to install and maintain landscapes and turfgrass
• Describe how to manage pests, such as insects
• Identify how to apply pesticides to control weeds and disease

This course on starting and running a landscaping business explores the basics of setting up a business. First, you'll observe the different forms of business ownership, the business opportunities in landscaping, the basics of business plans, how to make cost and price estimates, effective methods of writing business plans, and the methods of keeping business records. You'll gain the basic information needed to set up a landscaping business.

Objectives:

• Analyze the fundamentals and elements of landscaping business
• Point out the basics of an effective business plan
• Categorize the requirements of writing a business plan
• Distinguish between the purposes and methods of keeping business records

For this final project of your Landscaping Technology Program, develop a business plan for a small landscape business—perhaps your own! Use the forms and information in your textbooks to guide you through the process.