BI 108 - Practical Horticulture

Credit Hours: 3

This is an introductory course which provides a basic understanding of horticulture and applications for home and landscape. Topics covered include plant growth and propagation, use of plant materials, soil chemistry, water and lighting conditions, floral design, landscape history and design, pest control and specialty garden design and planting.

Fulfills SUNY General Education – Natural Sciences.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

gardens and history: Describe the basic history of garden design and be able to identify garden elements (derived from Spanish, Italian, Renaissance, French, English and Modern styles). Identify garden types and uses such as ornamental, herb, vegetable, water, butterfly, hummingbird, wildlife, arboretum, etc;
introduction to the green plant: Describe various processes in plants such as germination; photosynthesis; vegetative and reproductive growth. Explain various methods of plant propagation such as sexual and asexual. Identify the environmental effects on plant growth such as water, salinity, fungi, atmosphere, temperature, circadian cycles, air, wind and humidity;
soil science: Explain the benefits of different types of growth media (soiless mixes, topsoil, hydroponics). Describe soil structure, analyze a soil profile, name nutrients necessary for plant growth and describe the benefits and applications of fast and slow release fertilizers, manures and other fertilizers;
growth regulators used in horiculture: Name and describe the uses of auxins, gibberellins, cytokinens, abscissic acid and ethylene in plant production;
plant genetics: Identify genetic techniques used in the horticulture industry (tissue culture, biopesticides agricultural production. Discuss the ethical concerns of the use of biotechnology in plant production;
pest management: Identify major plant pests such as fungi, weeds, nematodes, rodents, insects, bacteria and fungi. Discuss use of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and general pesticides including safety procedures for their use (discussion will include what is meant by Integrated Pest Management and examples of cultural, biological, mechanical, genetic and chemical controls);
floral design: Describe the history, and basic elements of floral design including the care and handling of fresh flowers (students will have the opportunity to produce a floral arrangement using these principles);
plant materials: Define and give examples of annual, perennial, shrub and tree species focusing on those commonly used in Western New York.
landscape design: Explain the purposes of landscape design including examples of hardscaping, elements of site analysis and plant material used in landscaping (students will produce a landscape plan for a given site);
landscaping maintenance: Describe the process and methods of pruning, describe watering and irrigation techniques,and discuss types of turf and grass species;
greenhouse structure: Identify differing structures, coverings, layouts, orientations and temperature and cooling systems used in greenhouses; and
horiculture industry: Describe basic areas of horticulture (ornamental, landscaping, interiorscaping, olericulture and Pomology). Discuss career possibilities in the horticulture field including the educational background necessary for jobs as: florists, tree surgeons, turf managers, irrigation specialists, pesticide applicators, horticultural therapists, plant breeders, nurserymen, designers, plant geneticists, crop developers, suppliers, consultants,workers in botanical gardens and arboretums, and research scientists.

F/S (C)