Horticulture - Agriculture & Natural Resources Careers

    Horticulture is the cultivation of fruits, plants, flowers and vegetables. If you think about it, plants have a wide range of uses; as well as eating fruit and vegetables, we use plants and flowers as decorations, use herbs in medicines and cooking, play sport on grass pitches and use flowers as presents and to mark special occasions. A horticulturalist can be involved with any of these uses. Horticultural careers combine a number of interesting subjects, including science, environmental studies, business and IT. A qualification in horticulture opens up a wide range of career paths: growing plants and flowers for garden centres, working on golf courses, landscaping and fruit and vegetable production, to name a few. Education Students interested in higher-level horticultural courses have a number of options, with several dedicated degrees and higher certificates in Horticulture available at Irish colleges and universities. You can also study Horticulture as a subject on a course such as Forestry or Agriculture. The CAO points for Horticulture are between 200 and 350. Dedicated higher-level horticultural courses combine general science and botany subjects with more specialised classes. Subjects can include Plant Identification, Plant Biology, Soils Management, Environmental Science, Landscape Design, Horticultural Therapy, Golf Course Design, Floristry, Sports-turf Management and Fruit Growing. Horticultural students can also take business and IT courses, while some programmes contain a term in a work placement where you can practice your new skills and knowledge in the real world. Options After Qualification   A higher-level qualification in horticulture can open up a wide range of career options. Horticulture is a growth industry in Ireland at the moment, and there are opportunities for Horticulture graduates in landscape design and construction, greenkeeping, sports-turf management, gardening, market gardening, garden centres and many other related fields. It can also be possible to specialise within a particular area of horticulture – either by continuing studies at postgraduate level, or through pursuing a specialist career. Environmental management, tourism, forestry, agriculture, landscaping, research and teaching are all options open to people with horticultural qualifications. The Work The day-to-day work of a Horticulture graduate will obviously depend on the career choices and specialisations chosen. Some typical responsibilities of a horticulturalist include planning and implementing landscape and garden designs, planting, tending and harvesting organic fruit and vegetables, and maintaining grounds and facilities for sports clubs and public amenities. You might also find yourself working in a laboratory developing a new type of rose with no thorns, advising a football club on the type of grass to use on their pitch, being involved in quality control for a large retailer, or travelling to South America to select plants and flowers that will be stocked in a garden centre. Advances in modern technology, and especially in plant genetics, mean that horticultural careers are constantly evolving. New developments in plant sciences mean horticulturalists can design and develop more impressive plants and flowers. Horticultural therapists use the therapeutic benefits of peaceful garden environments to design healthy and relaxing public spaces. Many horticulturalists work for smaller companies, or are self-employed. Therefore, as your career progresses, you may find yourself involved in business, management or consultancy roles. People working in horticulture will find obvious links with colleagues involved in agriculture, forestry, food science and many other similar careers.   Personal Qualities & Work Environment Horticultural careers attract people with green fingers, who already have an interest and some experience in planting and sowing. You will need to think analytically and solve problems, so a certain amount of ability in maths and science subjects is necessary. There is also a good deal of creativity involved in designing and landscaping environments. Successful horticulturalists tend to be patient and prepared to get soil under their nails. Horticulture involves a good deal of physical work and you can find yourself outdoors in all weather conditions. As well as gardens and golf courses, some horticulturalists work in laboratories, while others will be based in an office. There can also be opportunities for travel and work abroad. The Money Newly qualified Horticulture graduates can expect to make between €23,000 and €26,000 a year. With experience, this can rise to €50,000 or more. Jargon Sports-turf Management: Developing and maintaining golf courses or sports pitches Floriculture: The cultivation of flowering plants Plant Genetics: Developing and researching new types of plants using the latest scientific developments in genetics   Job Titles Horticulturalist Gardener Groundsman/Greenkeeper Landscape Designer Market Gardener Garden Centre Manager