Apollo Showcase Team

Continued expansion of service-oriented jobs is an outcome of modern lifestyles. Through 2008 careers related to horticulture/landscape management are expected to grow by 22.6%, faster than the projected average rate of 12.5% for all Ohio occupations. One occupation that will grow faster than average is lawn service manager, which has a projected 31.2% job growth rate. Other occupations that will double the Ohio average growth rate are pruners, nursery and greenhouse managers and sprayers.

Landscape Designer/Manager - Landscape Technician -This pathway builds skills related to horticultural engineering and architectural principles used to develop residential, commercial, and/or recreational environments. Technical skills should include, but not be limited to:

• plant identification, selection, and culture
• drafting
• equipment maintenance and operation
• landscape contracting, construction, design
• precision agriculture
• safety regulations
• application of pesticides and fertilizers
• customer sales and services, computer skills, record keeping and laws
• basic soil and plant science
• pest identification and management

Golf Course Maintenance Technician - This program develops skills related to managing a golf course. Skills should include, but not be limited to:

• turf selection and management
• irrigation and drainage
• care of trees, shrubs and flowers
• operation and repair of equipment
• golf course organization/set-up, design concepts, renovation, maintenance
• business management
• building/facility maintenance
• knowledge of game of golf
• precision agriculture
• safety regulations
• application of pesticides and fertilizers
• sales and services, computer skills, supervision, record keeping
• basic soil and plant science
• pest identification and management

Lawn Care Specialist/Technician - This pathway includes horticultural principles and business skills needed to install, manage, and maintain lawns, athletic fields, or other turf areas. Technical skills should include, but not be limited to:

• grass/cultivar selection
• turf identification
• installation, maintenance, fertilization, irrigation, aeration of turf areas
• equipment operation and maintenance
• knowledge of environmental impact of lawn pesticides and fertilizers
• precision agriculture
• safety regulations
• application of pesticides and fertilizers
• customer sales and services, computer skills, supervision , record keeping and laws
• basic soil and plant science
• pest identification and management

Tree Maintenance Technician/Arborist - This pathway builds skills related to horticultural principles used in residential, commercial, governmental, and utility tree care. Technical skills should include, but not be limited to:

• tree selection, planting, pruning, fertilizing, removal
• cabling and bracing of trees
• operation and maintenance of equipment
• identification of plant
• precision agriculture
• safety regulations
• application of pesticides and fertilizers
• customer sales and services, computer skills, supervision, record keeping and laws
• basic soil and plant science
• pest identification and management

Nursery Technician - This pathway develops business and horticultural expertise to be a certified nursery technician. Technical skills should include, but not be limited to:

• plant identification, production, propagation & culture
• equipment operation and maintenance
• soil sampling and analysis
• drainage and irrigation
• pruning
• safe chemical handling, application of pesticides and fertilizers, laws
• precision agriculture
• application of pesticides and fertilizers
• customer sales and services, inventory control, computer skills, supervision, record keeping
• basic soil and plant science
• pest identification and management

Floral Designer - This pathway develops agricultural and artistic principles with business skills to design fresh and artificial arrangements. Technical skills should include, but not be limited to:

• identification of flowers and their care requirements
• handling of flowers and greens, pot plants
• floral design
• management
• safety regulations
• customer sales and services, computer skills, supervision, record keeping and laws

Greenhouse Technician/Manager -This program builds horticultural and business expertise in all areas of greenhouse production, as well as in sales, service, and consulting. Technical skills should include, but not be limited to:

• plant identification, production, fertilization, pruning
• pest and pathogen management
• greenhouse environmental control
• harvesting, handling and use of plants, foliage, cut flowers, vegetables, hanging baskets
• greenhouse equipment maintenance
• marketing and sales
• greenhouse construction
• communication skills