The NYBG Gardening Certificate Program provides in depth courses on sustainable gardening techniques, soil science, plant propagation, and garden maintenance design for the home gardener. Regional experts guide you through the art and science of plant selection and care for home or small-scale residential/urban/community gardens and greening projects.
Students who are pursuing a Certificate must complete 187 total course hours (164 required + 23 elective). Browse this page to discover what required courses are currently scheduled.
Learn
how
to
use
native
plants
and
native
gardening
practices
to
enhance
garden
ecosystems
and
increase
biodiversity.
Study
native
herbaceous
and
woody
plants:
their
identification,
habitat,
and
culture.
Discover
how
to
promote
a
healthy
environment
using
native
spring
ephemerals,
herbaceous
more...
Examine pre-planting procedures, from soil preparation to crop rotation planning. Study the timing and techniques of planting, pest management, and harvest and post-harvest handling. Survey heirloom varieties, new cultivars, and classic selections.
This user-friendly intro course surveys the major plant groups--flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and bryophytes--focusing on their form and structure. Become botanically literate and gain practical experience in dissecting and analyzing plant structures.
Choose the right plant for the right place, based on site-specific design and maintenance criteria. Learn landscape values such as size, texture, color, and flowering and fruiting seasons. Review trees, shrubs, groundcovers, annuals, and perennials suitable for this region.
This user-friendly intro course surveys the major plant groups--flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and bryophytes--focusing on their form and structure. Become botanically literate and gain practical experience in dissecting and analyzing plant structures.
Through
classwork
and
hands-on
practice,
develop
pruning
tools
and
techniques
to
help
shrubs,
conifers,
broadleaves,
evergreens,
and
deciduous
plants
thrive.
Explore
how
woody
plant
structure
and
physiology
influence
pruning.
Learn
how
to
create
and
maintain
hedges
and
explore
authentic
pollarding
more...
Understand
how
the
qualities
of
soil
affect
the
overall
productivity
of
plants
and
make
sustainable
gardening
practices
possible.
Practical
application
of
theory
is
stressed.
Topics
include
soil
formation,
physical
properties
of
soil,
soil-water
relationships,
and
management
techniques
such
as
irrigation,
more...
Explore the basics of successful, environmentally friendly gardening. Topics include soils and their improvement, seed sowing, vegetative propagation, planting, pruning, watering, weeding, mulching, and disease and pest control. This course is also required for the Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate.
This class introduces basic garden design principles using the interplay of structural features, plant characteristics, and site assessment. Learn to creatively combine trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and bulbs based on color, shape, texture, and size.
Explore the basics of successful, environmentally friendly gardening. Topics include soils and their improvement, seed sowing, vegetative propagation, planting, pruning, watering, weeding, mulching, and disease and pest control. This course is also required for the Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate.