Horticulture Technology

Leading Edge Training in Hands-On Plant Care, Landscaping, and More

Horticulture instructor working with student in garden

Program Overview

Are you drawn to the world of plants and eager to nurture your green skills? At College of Western Idaho (CWI), our Horticulture Technology program is crafted just for you. Dive into an immersive learning experience that blends hands-on practice with essential knowledge in plant propagation and nursery and greenhouse crop management. Whether you are aspiring to excel in floriculture, horticulture sales, or landscape maintenance, this program is your pathway to a flourishing career.

Here, you will engage in practical learning in state-of-the-art greenhouses, gardens, and edible landscapes, applying your skills in real scenarios. The journey leads to either an Intermediate Technical Certificate or an Associate of Applied Science Degree, opening doors to various roles in nurseries, greenhouses, and landscape companies. You will also have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, explore internships, and potentially transfer credits to a four-year institution.

Degree or Certificate Type

Associate of Applied Science

Advanced Technical Certificate

Intermediate Technical Certificate

Time to Complete

1 – 2 years

Primary Location

Horticulture technology student working in the garden

Learning Opportunities

  • Hands-On Plant Care: Experience practical learning in greenhouses and gardens, nurturing your horticultural skills.
  • Tailored to Your Interests: Whether it is sales, floriculture, or landscape maintenance, find your niche in horticulture.
  • Professional Certifications: Stand out to employers with industry-recognized certifications such as Certified Nursery Professional (CNP) Professional Pesticide Applicator.
  • Flexible Study Journey: Start your studies any semester and progress at a pace that suits you.
  • Networking & Career Opportunities: Build connections with local companies for internships and professional growth.

Community Engagement

Horticulture students gain invaluable, hands-on experience by working on projects within our community and for the benefit of others. All are invited to engage with our students and their learning. 

Contact Andrea Schumaker with questions. 

Area of Study

Degrees & Certificates

Horticulture Technology – Associate of Applied Science Degree

Horticulture Technology – Advanced Technical Certificate

Horticulture Technology – Intermediate Technical Certificate

Horticulturist standing next to heavy equipment

Career Opportunities

  • Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

    Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities. Excludes “First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers” (45-1011).

    130

    Annual Openings*

    $17.34

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $36,067

    Annual Median Salary

    4.88%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

    Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units. Excludes “Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse” (45-2092).

    71

    Annual Openings*

    $14.41

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $29,973

    Annual Median Salary

    18.63%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

    Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. Excludes “Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation” (37-3012), “Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products” (45-2041), and “Forest, Conservation, and Logging Workers” (45-4011 through 45-4029).

    67

    Annual Openings*

    $12.55

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $26,104

    Annual Median Salary

    3.87%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers

    Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.

    12

    Annual Openings*

    $19.89

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $41,371

    Annual Median Salary

    20.26%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

    Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification. Crop dusters are included in “Commercial Pilots” (53-2012).

    8

    Annual Openings*

    $18.20

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $37,856

    Annual Median Salary

    8.75%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Floral Designers

    Design, cut, and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage.

    8

    Annual Openings*

    $14.02

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $29,162

    Annual Median Salary

    1.84%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

    Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers. Excludes “First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers” (37-1012).

    7

    Annual Openings*

    $20.42

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $42,474

    Annual Median Salary

    5.55%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

  • Tree Trimmers and Pruners

    Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts. Excludes workers who primarily perform duties of “Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers” (37-3011) and “Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation” (37-3012).

    5

    Annual Openings*

    $14.34

    Hourly Median Wage*

    $29,827

    Annual Median Salary

    15.99%

    Growth (2021 – 2031)*

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*Data sourced from Lightcast™ (2023), a global leader in labor market analytics, and limited to the state of Idaho. Contact CWI Institutional Research for questions regarding this data.

"There are some great resources in this program. Not only does it gear you to do anything you want to do in this field, it prepares you for professional success. The networking it provides is invaluable and the hands-on experience is just awesome." Read more > about When ‘What If’ Becomes ‘I Did’
Jessica Thomas
Student, Horticulture Technology

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News

Eighty people from across the College and around the Treasure Valley devoured a tasty, five-course meal on campus Friday, Oct. 6, to support CWI's Campus Garden.

Read more about Farm to Fork Dinner Raises $5,000 for the Campus Garden

The Campus Garden provides a valuable resource to the CWI community, from educating students about agriculture best practices to helping feed those who suffer from food insecurity.

Read more about Campus Garden Supporting Students and Their Success

Tickets for 2023 Farm to Fork, a dinner hosted by College of Western Idaho Agriculture Science faculty and students, have sold out!

Read more about 2023 Farm to Fork Tickets Sold Out!

College of Western Idaho has officially been designated as Idaho’s newest Tree Campus Higher Education recipient.

Read more about CWI Receives Tree Campus Higher Education Recognition

Horticulture Technology student, Elizabeth Serocki, spent the weekend organizing a volunteer event to help restore sections of trails at Diane Moore Nature Center in Boise.

Read more about Horticulture Technology Student Restoring Boise River and Trails

Horticulture Technology students, staff, and faculty held a tree planting event as part of the process to earn the designation of a Tree Campus for Higher Education by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Read more about Horticulture Technology Working to Make CWI a Greener Campus

College of Western Idaho students and instructors have begun work to help restore acres of land along the Boise River.

Read more about Horticulture Technology Students Helping Restore Land Along Boise River

College of Western Idaho’s Horticulture Technology instructors and students are kicking off their new community service project with a week full of fun and learning outside of the classroom.

Read more about Restoration Week

Spruce up your yard and garden this spring with plants grown and cared for by College of Western Idaho Horticulture Technology students.

Read more about Horticulture Plant Sale Returns May 5

College of Western Idaho’s Landscape Maintenance Irrigation class has been hard at work this semester gaining irrigation design, renovation, and installation skills assisting with projects...

Read more about Horticulture Students Gain Hands-On Irrigation Experience

Ten Career Technical Education students, nominated by their instructors, selected to receive $1,000 scholarships.

Read more about 2020 Emerging Professionals

Although this year’s plant sale is canceled, there are still ways to support CWI’s Horticulture program throughout the community.  

Read more about Annual Plant Sale with a Spin
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