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Certificate in Horticulture

This program is designed for people who plan to pursue a career in the horticulture industries and for highly motivated home gardeners who want an in-depth understanding of plants and gardens. Horticulture certificate courses impart broad knowledge of plant growth and plant uses, with a focus on horticulture in an urban environment. Many students use the certificate to prepare for entry-level positions in the horticulture industry or to seek advancement in their current profession.

Courses combine lectures with hands-on learning and are taught at a community college level and require a significant investment of personal time in addition to class hours. You must attend two-thirds of the class sessions and achieve a passing grade (70% or higher) on the final exam or project to pass each course. Classes may be taken in any order, but it is recommended that students start with beginning courses, moving on to secondary and then final courses. Upon successful completion of all eight courses, you will receive an official Certificate of Merit from Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Click here for more information on this certificate program.

Certificate in Horticulture Required Courses

Beginning courses:

Secondary courses:

Final courses:

Fall and Winter Classes

Registration begins on August 1, 2008, at 9 a.m.

Botany for Horticulturists

Dr. Susan Pell and Dr. Gerry Moore

A strong foundation in botany is essential to understanding how to maintain a healthy landscape. This course includes discussions on plant anatomy, plant life cycles and reproduction, taxonomy, and plant physiology. This course requires no previous knowledge of botany and is recommended as a first course in the certificate.

SECTION FULL. Contact Registration to add your name to the waiting list.
7 Tuesdays: August 26; September 2, 9, 16, 23; October 7, 14 | 5:30–8:30 p.m.
$255 member, $275 nonmember
(Fee includes $5 materials charge.)
Registration Information

Soil Management

Cayleb Long and Uli Lorimer

The planning that goes into creating a beautiful garden is wasted if the soil is poor. Learn about soil structure, fertility, and water availability to understand what happens underground. Learn about different ways to improve the soil through amendments and other techniques. Lectures are supplemented by hands-on lab sessions.

6 Wednesdays: August 27; September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1 | 6–9 p.m.
$220 member, $240 nonmember
Registration Information

Urban Garden Maintenance

Michael Mauro, BBG Staff and Colleagues

In this class, professional horticulturists teach you the ins and outs of maintaining a city garden. Learn the tools and techniques for plant care, pruning, planting, transplanting, and other essential tasks, with lessons on site assessment, flower borders, trees, shrubs, containers, grass, and groundcovers. Each class focuses on a different topic.

6 Tuesdays: August 26; September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 6–9 p.m.
$225 member, $245 nonmember
(Fee includes $5 materials charge.)
Registration Information

Pest Management

Linda Ameroso

Skilled gardeners must be able to identify and control common insect pests and diseases. Learn the pests that attack your garden and methods for prevention and control. Proper site selection, plant selection, soil conditioning, and other integrated pest management (IPM) practices are discussed. Safe application of pesticides is also covered.

5 Thursdays: October 2, 9, 16, 23; November 6 | 6–9 p.m.
1 Saturday Lab: October 25 | 10 am–1 p.m.
$220 member, $240 nonmember
Registration Information

Urban Garden Design

Nigel Rollings

Using a small space to the best advantage is the aspiration of many urban gardeners. In this class, learn how to complete a thorough site analysis, work with space, become acquainted with many materials and techniques, and then select appropriate plants with which to create a design for an urban garden. This class is limited to 16 students, so register early.

Section A: 6 Tuesdays: October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 18, 25 | 6–9 p.m.
Section B: 6 Thursdays: October 9, 16, 23, 30; November 13, 20 | 6–9 p.m.
$225 member, $245 nonmember
(Fee includes $5 materials charge.)
Registration Information