MANAGER IN HORTICULTURE

A manager in horticulture is an experienced professional who is knowledgeable in topics related to growing and maintaining plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Managers in horticulture are responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the activities of nursery and greenhouse staff. This could include training staff on organizational policies and ensuring staff members are comfortable talking with customers about plants and other products. Part of the role of a manager in horticulture also involves ordering inventory and staying up to date with market trends. While it is not always necessary, some managers in horticulture may have formal education and training in horticulture. Others have knowledge and experience gained from years spent learning on the job.

WHAT ARE OTHER COMMON NAMES FOR A MANAGER IN HORTICULTURE?

GREENHOUSE MANAGER, GREENHOUSE OPERATOR, NURSERY MANAGER, NURSERY OPERATOR

What will you do?

Managers in horticulture play an important role in landscaping, nursery, and greenhouse operations. In general, they:

Plan, organize, direct, and control the operations of nurseries and greenhouses
Establish the environmental conditions required to grow trees, shrubs, flowers and plants, and design planting and care schedules accordingly
Determine the type and quantity of stock to grow
Supervise staff in planting, transplanting, feeding, and spraying stock
Identify and control insect, disease, and weed problems
Develop marketing plans
Provide information to customers on gardening and on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns
Order materials such as fertilizer, garden and lawn care equipment, and other nursery and greenhouse related accessories
Hire and manage staff, oversee training, and set work schedules
Maintain records on stock, budgets, and personnel

Where will you work?

Managers in horticulture are mainly in demand at greenhouses and nurseries, garden centres, and landscaping companies. They may also be employed by:

What advancement opportunities are available?

Managers in horticulture are knowledgeable and skilled professionals with years of experience who may have graduated from a diploma or degree program in their related field. Similar to other professions in landscaping and horticulture, managers may have started out their careers as agricultural workers or greenhouse and nursery labourers and gained enough experience to move into a leadership position as a manager. A manager in horticulture may be the highest position at some landscaping firms, aside from business owners. For managers in horticulture looking to advance their careers, some start their own companies or work as consultants.

Future employment prospects for managers in horticulture in Ontario are positive. In 2020, there were 33 job postings for managers in horticulture across Ontario.

What can you expect to earn?

In Ontario, the median annual wage for a Manager In Horticulture is $41,350. Pending experience, responsibilities, location, hours of work, and qualifications a Manager In Horticulture can expect to make between $34,320 and $64,501.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE A MANAGER IN HORTICULTURE?

Work Context

Communicate via telephone

Face-to-face discussions

Responsible for the health and safety of others

Work Attributes

Dependability

Integrity

Attention to detail

Initative

Leadership

Communication

What education and certifications do I need to do this work?

HOW DO I BECOME A MANAGER IN HORTICULTURE?

To become a manager in horticulture, some people will begin as nursery or garden centre labourers and later acquire additional training and experiences to become a certified horticulture technician. After gaining the necessary skills and knowledge, an experienced horticulture technician can move into a management role, if that is of interest to them.

Managerial roles in horticulture involve leading teams, ordering materials, and liaising with customers and clients. Many employers look to hire managers who have a combination of skills, industry recognized professional development, technical and project management training and certifications, educational training, and on the job experience in horticulture and landscaping.

It is likely that many managers in horticulture are certified horticulture technicians. Horticulture technician is a regulated but voluntary trade in Ontario. Upon completing the necessary apprenticeship training program, individuals are issued a Certificate of Apprenticeship, which confirms that someone has the skills, knowledge and experience that meet industry standards.

Many Ontario colleges and universities offer horticulture programs, which will give you a solid foundation in horticulture knowledge and expertise that is an asset many employers look for.

Examples of in-school training can include, but is not limited to:

Plant science, botany and plant identification
Plant material and plant-handling techniques
Plant propagation techniques and plant production
Turf grass management
Landscape construction
Pest management
Landscape equipment maintenance
Irrigation (components, pipe layout and spray rates)
Site layout, and grading and drainage
Workplace communication and applied trade mathematics
Applied safety procedures and first aid
Health and safety
Project management

HOW DO I BECOME A CERTIFIED MANAGER IN HORTICULTURE?

Industry associations offer certification programs for managers in landscaping and horticulture. For example, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association offers a national Certified Landscape Horticulture Manager program.

Programs and Apprenticeships

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