RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE TECHNICIAN DIPLOMA
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This part time diploma program covers information required for employment as a residential landscaper, including business fundamentals. It is industry approved and developed in cooperation with the BC Landscape and Nursery Association and also prepares participants to write the Landscape Industry Certified Technician and the Provincial Trades Qualifications Exam.
This program will be of interest to those considering a career in the landscape industry, are starting their own business in the landscape industry, or are currently in the industry and wish to update their knowledge and provide more comprehensive services.
Topics covered include:
- Ornamental plants
- Irrigation
- Plant identification
- Plant installation
- Soils
- Design fundamentals
- Grading and drainage
- Landscape maintenance
- Turf
- Pruning
- Integrated pest management
- Business fundamentals
Participants can complete this program on a part-time basis in two semesters of 9 weeks each; the semesters are scheduled for September-December and January-March.
PREREQUISITES
Students should meet all the following prerequisites before registering:
- Proficiency in English
- Students must arrange their own transportation to off-site events
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To graduate, students must meet all the following requirements:
- Successful completion of all assignments and quizzes
FUTURE EMPLOYMENT
Graduates of this program can find employment in the professional landscape industry or start their own landscape business.
COURSE OUTLINES
COURSE OUTLINE FOR STUDENTS STARTING IN THE FALL SEMESTER
- Ornamental Plants In The Landscape
- Plant ID I – Annuals
- Botany – Plant structure and chemistry
- Plant ID II – Perennials
- Soils I – Soil texture, structure, fertility, pH and how they relate to plant health
- Plant ID III – Deciduous trees & shrubs I
- Soils II – Soil tests, amendments, mulches, cultural practices and how they relate to plant health
- Plant ID IV – Deciduous Trees and Shrubs II
- Grading & Drainage – Causes and control of grading, drainage and erosion problems
- Plant ID V – Vines and ground covers
- Turf I – Characteristics and cultural needs of the most common West Coast turf grasses, turf establishment
- Turf II – Lawn maintenance, disease, weed and pest control (IPM)
- Integrated Pest Management I – Principles and practices of IPM
- Integrated Pest Management II – Principles and practices of IPM
- Irrigation Basics – Irrigation scheduling
- Irrigation Lab – Basic irrigation system installation and repair, sprinkler head adjustment
- Plant Installation – Site layout, calculating plant requirements, planting & staking, special environmental conditions such as high water tables, compacted soils, prevailing winds, etc
- Plant Installation Lab – Site layout and planting
- Design Fundamentals I – Elements of landscape design, site analysis
- Landscape Maintenance – Evaluation and scheduling of landscape maintenance
- Design Fundamentals II – Step-by-step design process
- Site Plan Lab – Measurement & collection of data for site plan
- Business Fundamentals I – Legal issues affecting the landscape business, such as WCB, Labour standards, bonding, insurance, liens, etc.
- Plant ID VI – Evergreen Trees & Shrubs I
- Business Fundamentals II – Estimating I
- Plant ID VII – Evergreen Trees & Shrubs II
- Business Fundamentals III – Estimating II
- Business Fundamentals IV – Contracts
- Pruning I – Tree physiology, pruning methods and their effect on trees, specialty pruning
- Pruning II Lab – Pruning of ornamental trees, shrubs and hedges; students must bring their own bypass pruners
- Plant ID VIII – Bulbs and plant ID review
COURSE OUTLINE FOR STUDENTS STARTING IN THE WINTER SEMESTER
- Ornamental Plants In The Landscape – Suitability of plants for a variety of environments & landscape uses
- Soils I – Soil texture, structure, fertility, pH and how they relate to plant health
- Botany – Nomenclature, plant structure and chemistry
- Soils II – Soils tests, amendments, mulches, cultural practices and how they relate to plant health
- Grading & Drainage – Causes and control of grading, drainage and erosion problems
- Plant ID I – Bulbs
- IPM I – Principles and practices of Integrated Pest Management
- IPM II – Principles and practices of Integrated Pest Management
- Pruning I – Tree physiology, pruning methods and their effect on trees, specialty pruning
- Pruning II – Lab – Pruning of ornamental trees, shrubs and hedges; students must bring their own bypass pruners
- Irrigation Basics – Irrigation scheduling
- Plant ID II – Evergreen trees and shrubs I
- Irrigation Lab – – Basic irrigation system installation and repair, sprinkler head adjustment
- Plant ID III – Evergreen trees and shrubs II
- Business Fundamentals I – WCB, Labour Standards, bonding, insurance, liens
- Plant ID IV – Vines and ground covers
- Plant Installation – Site layout, calculating plant requirements, planting & Staking, special environmental conditions such as high water tables, compacted soils, prevailing winds, etc
- Plant ID V – Annuals
- Turf I – Characteristics and cultural needs of the most common West Coast turf grasses, turf establishment
- Plant ID VI – Perennials
- Turf II
- Plant ID VII – Deciduous trees and shrubs
- Design Fundamentals I – Elements of landscape design, site analysis
- Plant ID VIII – Deciduous trees and shrubs II
- Design Fundamentals II – Step-by-step design process
- Landscape Maintenance – Evaluation and scheduling of landscape maintenance
- Business Fundamentals II – Estimating I
- Business Fundamentals III – Estimating II
- Plant Installation – Lab – Site layout and planting
- Business Fundamentals IV – Contracts
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Julia Alards-Tomalin
Julia has studied Forest Ecosystems and Ecological Restoration at BCIT and has also received training in Ecological Landscape Design from Gaia College. She runs her own ecological restoration business, specializing in re-establishment of native plants in sensitive habitats such as estuaries and stream banks. In addition to field work, she enjoys teaching part-time and public speaking on various environmental topics when she has the opportunity.
Catherine Dale
After a decade of maintenance work in the horticulture industry, I started to wonder if there were better ways to deal with landscape problems. I realized I was treating the symptoms, not the causes, of the sick landscapes I was supposed to be caring for – that the conventional approach was not working. I began to explore organic principles and realized that the key to landscape health was working with nature, not warring against it. Time for an awakening!
In partnership with the Burnaby School District and Gaia College, I instruct the Organic Master Gardener and Organic Horticulture Specialist programs. I also instruct the Plant Identification course and guest lecture in the Ecological Landscape Design program. These courses are designed for professional and home gardeners to learn how to manage the landscape in an environmentally friendly way.
I also teach the Residential Landscape Technician program – for 20 years! It is an entry-level program to landscapers, many of whom have started their own businesses.
I work with the BC Landscape and Nursery Association, instructing the Horticulture Basics program, preparing and presenting entry-level information to new landscape employees across the province.
Burnaby School District’s Community & Continuing Education Services have been approved by the Industry Training Authority as a Training Provider for the Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship, so I coordinate the instructors and learning material in this program. Graduates of this program become trade certified in Landscape Horticulture, a Red Seal program.
Other qualifications:
- Qualified for my Journeyperson certification in Landscape Horticulture in the early 1990’s
- Instructor at Capilano College’s Horticulture program in 2005-2006 teaching Soils and Integrated Pest Management
- SOUL certified in Organic Landcare, 2005
- Over 30 years of experience in the horticulture industry, working for several municipalities, golf courses, private gardens, restoring heritage gardens and organically managing the GVRD’s compost demonstration garden
- “Educator of the Year” award from the BC Landscape and Nursery Association, 2004
- Awarded the City of Burnaby’s Environmental Award for work at the Eagles Estate Heritage Garden on the shores of Deer Lake, 2006
- Worked as head gardener on the mainland for the Land Conservancy restoring historical and cultural gardens
- Completed the Provincial Instructor’s Diploma in Adult Education
- Involved with the Communities in Bloom program
- Instructing Horticulture programs for Corrections Canada inmates
- Certified Permaculture Instructor
STUDENT FEEDBACK
