Author: Annette Irish FAIH, RH08,(RET), HMAA
The Horticulture industry, or often referred to as the Landscape, Lifestyle, Ornamental or Amenity Horticulture Industry, is traditionally based around 7 key sectors that have common core horticultural skills and competencies but provide specialist skills based in specific vocational areas. Recent inclusions in some countries are the two areas of environmental and sustainable horticulture.
The one important factor is that all sectors apply the science of horticulture – the art and science of the care and maintenance of plants.
Those who apply this science are referred to as ‘horticulturists’.
Therefore, many of the underpinning knowledge and skills of sectors of horticulture are common and include the study of plant classification, plant health and soil sciences.
Occupations are broad ranging and examples include parks maintenance worker, landscape construction worker, plant propagator, nursery general hand, greenkeeper, arborist, tree surgeon, designer, floriculturist, interiorscape and floral designers and nursery retailer. There are some common skills and underpinning knowledge that provides portability within the industry sectors.
Park, Reserves and Gardens Sector
Arboriculture Sector
Turf, Sports Turf and Greens Sector
Interiorscape Sector
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
Specialist practices of tree surgery, pruning, tree health, planting and transplanting
Practised in all international horticultural zones.
Many arborists operate as private contractors while others are employed or contracted by government agencies.
The sector uses specialist machinery with a high inherent danger factor requiring specialist training and has a high safety management factor | Maintenance and management of trees in private and public gardens, parks and streetscapes;
Removal and/or transplanting of large trees;
Protection and rehabilitation of trees under structural or physical threat;
Provision of advice on tree planting and maintenance;
Evaluation and assessment of tree health and monetary value. | Parks owners,
Town Councils,
Domestic house owners,
Property developers and managers, |
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
Generally there is a wide diversity in commodity areas and enterprises across the Floriculture sector. In Singapore this commodity area is in the specialist area of orchid growing for cut flower market and export
Irrigation specialists also work with this sector | Growing and harvesting of commercial flower;
Flower seed; Foliage; Essential oil crops;
Management and maintenance of field and controlled growing environments;
Postharvest treatments and production of plant products. | Cut Flower and dried flower market domestic, commercial and export;
Essential Oil Users – Perfumeries, pharmaceuticals, food additives, |
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
The design, establishment and maintenance of an interiorscape. Mix of design, plant care, maintenance of gardens in interior or built environment protected areas. | Species selection, implementation and maintenance issues
Theme and seasonality of display; Combination of floral display and longer lasting foliage display; Level of Air-conditioning, climatic control systems, ventilation;
Watering and/or irrigation systems; light source– natural, artificial, UV/strobe/coloured lighting; Proximity and numbers of passers-by; Length of time of display; Pest and disease control management ; Site access – setup, maintenance, out of trading hours, restricted security access | Commercial, domestic, conferences, hotels, displays, indoor water features |
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
Diverse mix of construction, engineering and horticultural skills application applied in the built environment. Range of operations with 2 key focus:
hardscape construction, and
softscape development with plant use and landscape development.
Irrigation specialists also work with this sector | Design of gardens and commercial landscapes;
Installation and maintenance of gardens;
Construction and installation of amenity and recreational landscape features and structures;
Provision of technical advice and forward estimates on landscape development proposals.
Public Open Space design and construction
| Landscape work is associated with commercial construction, hotel and resort construction, engineering projects along transport corridors, new housing developments, and improvements to residential, commercial and industrial properties |
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
Production of plants
Wholesale and retail sale of plants
Sale of allied products – landscape materials, cut flowers, dried flowers,
Dry goods- irrigation products, chemicals, fertilisers, plant treatments, pots, statuary, water features, sands, soils, potting mixes, giftware,
Irrigation specialists also work with this sector | Propagation, production and maintenance of plants for sales and/or hire;
Wholesaling and retailing of plants and associated products;
Horticultural consultation, plant health assessments, plant community assessments;
Provision of advice on plant selection, care and health and garden design;
Marketing and promotion of plant products and services. | There is a wide diversity of enterprises across the Nursery Sectors in size, provision of species groups, target markets and clients.
The major distinction of nurseries is generally between their wholesale/production and retail activities and often home centres and tourist attractions. |
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
The Parks and Gardens sector covers the management, development and maintenance of Parks and gardens. Contract administration and management.
Turf, trees, garden bed maintenance,
Irrigation specialists also work with this sector | Public Open Space design and construction
Management and maintenance of public and private open spaces parks,
Gardening for all markets
Design and implementation of special plant displays;
Provision of advice on plant selection and use in commercial and industrial situations;
Playground equipment installation and maintenance | Park Users, Parks Managers
Domestic garden owners;
Themed: Zoological gardens, botanical, bird parks, fun parks, cemeteries, and
Institutional lands; historic, cultural and special use areas
Natural bushland and community recreation areas; reserves and gardens, wetland and coastal zones
Conservation areas and community gardens |
Operations | Skills Application | Target Market |
|---|---|---|
The turf sector covers the propagation,
production and use of turf In the community.
Mowing contractors.
Turf is sold as sods, seed, plugs, sprigs, rolls, flats.
Turf Irrigation specialists also work with this sector | Establishment maintenance of commercial and recreational turf;
Design and preparation of sports turf playing surfaces;
Domestic mowing and turf maintenance operations;
Commercial growing and supply of turf;
Management of recreational and sports turf facilities;
Provision of technical advice on turf irrigation, pest, disease control, turf management practices. | Golf Courses, bowling greens, wicket and pitch preparation
Elite and recreational sports turf clubs,
Schools and other Institutions,
Parks, gardens
Domestic gardens
Industrial sites, racing clubs,
institutional and recreational playing fields, |
A number of industry sectors provide strong allied support at construction, implementation, retail and wholesale levels. Some of these sectors employ qualified horticulturists to support their market and supply chain:
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