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Certificate in Horticulture

More Information on Courses

You may take classes in any order you wish, but many students find it helpful to take Botany for Horticulturists and Urban Garden Maintenance as the first classes and Urban Garden Design as the final class in the Certificate.

Individual Courses

Botany for Horticulturists

A strong foundation in botany is essential to understanding how to maintain a healthy landscape. This course includes discussions on plant anatomy, plant life cycle and reproduction, taxonomy, genetics and plant physiology. This course assumes no previous knowledge of botany.

Plant Propagation

As you learn to grow and care for landscape plants, it is essential to know how to increase your stock of plants. Learn plant propagation techniques such as hybridization, grafting, layering, and rooting cuttings. After a lecture and demonstration of each method, you will practice each technique in a hands-on lab session.

Woody Landscape Plant Identification

Woody plants form the backbone of a successful landscape planting. This course helps you master the many woody plants commonly used in urban landscapes. The instructors discuss identification methods, landscape uses, and diseases and pests of each plant. Classroom lectures are augmented by laboratory sessions in BBG's 52 acres of plant collections with more than 12,000 kinds of plants.

Herbaceous Landscape Plant Identification

Herbaceous plants (annuals, biennials and perennials) accentuate the characteristics of other features in the landscape. When used properly, they provide almost year-round bloom. Learn identification methods, landscape uses, and diseases and pests of each plant. Classroom lectures are augmented by laboratory sessions in BBG's 52 acres of plant collections with more than 12,000 kinds of plants.

Pest Management

Part of becoming a skilled gardener is knowing how to identify and control common insects and diseases. In this class, learn about the pests that attack your garden and the methods for their 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.

Urban Garden Maintenance

BBG's professional horticulturists teach you the ins and outs of maintaining a city garden. Learn the tools and techniques for pruning, soil preparation, planting, transplanting and other essential tasks.

Soil Management

All the planning that goes into creating a beautiful garden is wasted if the soil is poor. Learn about soil structure, fertility, and water availability, so you can understand what is happening underground. Learn about different ways to improve the soil through soil amendments.

Urban Garden Design

Size, texture and color are among the most important aspects of garden design. Learn to use these attributes to make the most of small spaces. In this class, you will learn how to complete a site analysis, select appropriate plants and create a design for smaller-scale urban gardens.

Internships and Volunteer Opportunities

A popular way to enhance your horticultural expertise is to complete an internship or become a garden volunteer in addition to completing the classroom instruction in the Horticulture Certificate program. Brooklyn Botanic Garden provides full-time, paid internships for a hands-on experience working with professional gardeners on horticultural maintenance and display. For more information, contact the Director of Horticulture at (718) 623-7242.

We also have an active corps of volunteers who work in the garden, at the Gardener's Resource Center, or for other Garden programs and events. For more information or to become a member, contact the Director of Volunteers at (718) 623-7260.

Current Course Offerings

To find out which Certificate in Horticulture courses are coming up and the dates they are offered, go to the Certificate in Horticulture page or fill out this form to request a catalogue. Each course in the Certificate in Horticulture program is offered two times per year.

Adult Education
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(718) 623-7227

Fees

Fees for each course must be paid no later than the day the course begins. You do NOT have to pay the total fees for the program at the beginning. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Members receive a discount on the cost of the courses.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden reserves the right to alter the fees as necessary.