Plant Science
Landscape/Arboriculture
The trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers that we use to decorate and beautify our land also serve a useful environmental purpose. The design and maintenance of these important features is the focus of study in the Landscape/Arboriculture concentration.
Students receive training in arboriculture: the cultivation of trees and shrubs. They learn climbing, pruning, and disease recognition and control. On our extensive grounds, they learn the proper techniques of mowing and feeding natural turf, along with planting, pruning, and maintaining shrubs and trees. The designing and building of patios, walkways, and walls are studied and practiced, along with propagation and retailing of nursery stock.
Students selecting this major will take classes covering landscape maintenance, construction, and design; nursery production; woody landscape materials; perennials; irrigation installation; turf management; arboriculture; urban forestry; and landscape equipment operation.
Many graduates of this program have continued on to two and four year colleges to study landscape design or construction. Most notably, Shannon Lane (Class of 2007) who is entering her senior year at Cornell University where she is studying Landscape Architecture. Many Essex Aggie students have gone on to rewarding careers as supervisors for landscape, nursery, and garden center operations. Several former students can be found across Essex County owning or managing these companies.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Grade 11: Arboriculture, Landscape Design and Installation, Landscape Equipment Operations, Greenhouse/Landscape Industry Management, and Landscape and Turf Management.
Grade 12: Plant Science Entrepreneurship, Landscape Construction, Landscape Design and Installation, Arboriculture 2
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