Program Outline
Instruction Sets
Your Landscaper Program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step through the knowledge and skills you'll use in your new career.
Here's how it works
You receive the first course as soon as your enrollment has been accepted, and other courses will follow as you complete your exams.
Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 10® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running macOS® or later, and an email account to complete this program.
Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll access your lessons:
Starting Your Program
Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program. Understand how to use your Student Portal. Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers. Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
Program Goal and Outcomes
Program Goal: The Landscaping Technology Career Diploma program prepares students for an entry-level position in the field of landscape technology.
Program Outcomes:
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Describe how to confer with clients, engineers, and building architects to understand a project
- Explain preparing site plans, specifications, and cost estimates
- Identify how to coordinate the arrangement of existing and proposed land features and structures
- Prepare graphic representations of proposed plans
- Outline how to select appropriate materials for use in landscape designs
- Identify how to analyze environmental reports on land conditions, such as drainage and energy usage
- Describe how to inspect landscape work to ensure that it adheres to original plans
- Identify how to seek new work through marketing or by giving presentations
Course 1
Starting Your Program
In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. You’ll learn how you can improve your study skills, so you’re able to use a number of tools that will help you to be successful.
Objectives:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
Course 2
Introduction to Landscaping
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:
- Point out the basic skills of landscape designing, installing, and maintenance process
Course 3
The Landscape and Horticulture Industry
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
Additional Course Materials
Textbook: Horticulture Today
Course 4
Garden Ecology
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 plants 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
Course 5
Landscape Plants
This course focuses on trees and shrubs. You’ll learn how to identify and differentiate between these plants, which will be a great help to you during your landscape career. This knowledge will not only assist you in becoming an expert in the field, it’ll guide you in making planting decisions for your landscape designs.
Objectives:
- Categorize the general characteristics of various plants
- Point out the key features shared by various types of trees in the same genus
- Analyze the key features of various types of shrubs used in gardens and landscape designing
Additional Course Materials
Textbooks:
- The Sibley Guide to Trees
- The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook
Course 6
Landscape and Garden Design
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
Additional Course Materials
Textbook: The Essential Garden Design Workbook
Course 7
Landscape Construction, Installation, and Maintenance
This course 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
Course 8
Starting and Running Your Landscaping Business
This course explores the basics of setting up a landscaping business. You'll learn about the different forms of business ownership and how to identify business opportunities in landscaping. You'll review the basics of creating and writing a business plan, as well as how to make cost and price estimates. Finally, you'll explore methods of keeping business records. All this information should put you on track to becoming an organized landscaping professional.
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
Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster Career School International.
We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
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