Continuing Education
Ongoing seminars will be available to prepare students for certification exams if they desire. The Community Education Department routinely offers Gardening Workshop Classes twice a year in the evenings. Call 874-7671 for more information and current schedule.
Cooperative Education
DMTC may award credit for work experience related to the different disciplines of Horticulture. The student will work through the department to determine eligibility. We also work closely with area Cooperative Extension offices, as well as horticulture professionals. Credits are available to be transferred to post-secondary institutions for advanced degrees.
Course Availability
The Horticulture and Landscape Technologies Program is a two-semester (1 year required) program.
Program information, courses, and credit hours are subject to change.
Courses and CreditsCore Courses Credits
Horticulture Fundamentals Credits
HLT101 Introduction to Horticulture............... 4
HLT120 Principles of Xeriscape.................... 3
HLT202 Landscape Plant Health Care............ 3
HLT221 Woody Landscape Plants I.............. 3
HLT223 Annuals, Bulbs and Grasses............ 2
HLT224 Herbaceous Perennials ................... 4
HLT240 Introductory Soil Science................. 4
HLT245 Green Industry Business Operations. 3
HLT264 Arboriculture.................................... 3
HLT289 Horticulture Capstone...................... 1
Total Credits 30
Landscape Design Credits
HLT118 Rock and Water Gardening............... 2
HLT126 Planting Design............................... 2
HTL130 Landscape Graphics Studio............. 3
HLT140 Landscape Design & Planning.......... 4
HLT180 Internship........................................ 2
HLT210 Landscape Management.................. 3
HLT222 Woody Landscape Plants II.............. 3
HLT232 Introduction to LandDesigner Pro..... 2
HLT237 Landscape Construction Bidding & Estimating 2
HLT250 Landscape Irrigation Design............. 3
Total Credits 28
Landscape Technician Credits
HLT106 Green Industry Equipment................ 2
HLT118 Rock and Water Gardening............... 2
HLT126 Planting Design............................... 2
HLT180 Internship........................................ 2
HLT265 Arboriculture Field Practice.. 2
HLT208 Commercial Pesticide License Training 3
HLT210 Landscape Management.................. 3
HLT222 Woody Landscape Plants II.............. 3
HLT237 Landscape Construction Bidding & Estimating 2
HLT242 Turfgrass Management.................... 4
HLT250 Landscape Irrigation Design............. 3
Total Credits 28
Nursery and Greenhouse Management Credits
HLT105 Greenhouse Management & Crops... 4
HLT106 Green Industry Equipment................ 2
HLT118 Rock and Water Gardening............... 2
HLT126 Planting Design............................... 2
HLT180 Internship........................................ 2
HLT265 Arboriculture Field Practice.. 2
HLT208 Commercial Pesticide License Training 3
HLT215 Nursery and Garden Center Management 4
HLT222 Woody Landscape Plants II.............. 3
HLT260 Plant Propagation ........................... 4
Total Credits 28
Turf Specialist Credits
HLT106 Green Industry Equipment................ 2
HLT118 Rock and Water Gardening............... 2
HLT180 Internship........................................ 2
HLT265 Arboriculture Field Practice.. 2
HLT208 Commercial Pesticide License Training 3
HLT222 Woody Landscape Plants II.............. 3
HLT242 Turfgrass Management.................... 4
HLT244 Sports Turf Management.................. 3
HLT250 Landscape Irrigation Design............. 3
HLT251 Landscape Irrigation Field Practices. 3
Total Credits 27
Electives Credits
The following electives may be taken with instructor approval.
HLT125 Landscape Drafting and Design....... 3
HLT226 Interior Plants.................................. 4
HLT235 Principles of Grading and Drainage.. 3
HLT236 Landscape Construction.................. 4
HLT243 Golf Turf Management..................... 3
HLT265 Arboriculture Field Practices............. 2
Course Descriptions
HLT101 Introduction to Horticulture 4 Credits
Introduces the biology of horticultural plants and basic horticultural practices.
HLT105 Greenhouse Management & Crops 4 Credits
Discusses greenhouse design, systems, management, and the major greenhouse crops and their cultural needs.
HLT106 Green Industry Equipment 2 Credit
Introduces students to the basic concepts of maintenance, care, and repair of equipment associated with the Green Industry. This instruction is designed to cover the knowledge and skills required of employees and employers in many areas of the landscape occupations such as lawn maintenance industry, landscaping, and nurseries.
HLT118 Rock and Water Gardening 2 Credits
Discusses the design and construction of rock gardens and water gardens. The course also surveys the plant materials and maintenance practices associated with these types of gardens.
HLT120 Principles of Xeriscape 3 Credits
Covers the principles and practices used in establishing water-conserving landscapes. Special attention is given to the proper siting, establishment and care of plant materials in water conserving landscapes, and the installation of low water use irrigation systems.
HLT125 Landscape Drafting and Design 3 Credits
Allows students to learn the basics of landscape design and planning so that they can produce simple gardens or interpret plans for construction. The course discusses the principles and elements of design by looking at various landscape styles. Students learn the design process and basics of landscape graphics. They produce simple, scaled landscape drawings, and learn to interpret landscape plans for construction.
HLT126 Planting Design 2 Credits
Allows students to focus on the planting design phase of landscape design. Students learn to analyze plants for their design characters and how to marry various types of plant materials into various situations. Perennial, annual, and mixed plantings (trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants) will be considered. Students will learn how to represent these combinations graphically.
HLT130 Landscape Graphics Studio 3 Credits
Introduces students to the basics of graphic communications used in landscape design and construction. Students learn the proper use of graphic tools and materials to manually produce site analysis, concept plan, preliminary plan, planting plan, and master plan documents in both plan and perspective views.
HLT140 Landscape Design and Planning 4 Credits
Explores the principles and elements of design. The student learns about form, spatial and materials composition, and environmentally and architecturally responsive design. Students complete a set of landscape design documents for an actual or fictional client.
HLT180 Internship 2 Credits
Provides students with the opportunity to supplement course work with practical work experience related to their educational program. Students work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor/coordinator.
HLT202 Landscape Plant Health Care 3 Credits
Introduces students to the fundamentals of plant health care using important diseases and pests that affect landscape plants. Students study the components and concepts of plant health care, integrated pest management, pest/problem diagnosis, pest identification, and pest life cycles.
HLT208 Commercial Pesticide License Training 3 Credit
Studies the requirements for the qualified supervisor license as outlined in the training manuals published by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Students may elect to take the certified operator tests if they do not meet the experience qualifications for the qualified supervisors license. Areas studied will be for the general, weeds, agricultural insect, plant disease, and industrial right-of-way tests administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Students may elect to take any of the other tests available.
HLT210 Landscape Management 3 Credits
Teaches the best management practices for landscapes. Students learn about, the maintenance needs of various landscape features and what management options exist for each feature. This course emphasizes improving landscape quality while minimizing management costs. Other topics include landscape business practices, water management, and seasonal landscape care tasks.
HLT215 Nursery and Garden Center Management 4 Credits
Introduces students to the basics of nursery and garden center management including establishing a business, retail and wholesale marketing and merchandising, and the production and maintenance of plant materials.
HLT221 Woody Landscape Plants I 3 Credits
Discusses the identification (common and botanical names), landscape usage, and culture of regionally adapted plants. This course discusses deciduous shade and ornamental trees and conifers (evergreen trees and shrubs).
HLT222 Woody Landscape Plants II 3 Credits
Discusses the identification (common and botanical names), landscape usage, and culture of regionally adapted plants. This course discusses deciduous and evergreen broadleaf shrubs and vines.
HLT223 Annuals, Bulbs, and Grasses 2 Credits
Discusses the identification (common and botanical names), landscape usage, and culture of annuals, bulbs, and perennial and annual grasses common to Colorado landscapes.
HLT224 Herbaceous Perennials 4 Credits
Discusses the identification (common and botanical names), landscape usage, and culture of herbaceous perennials common to Colorado landscapes.
HLT226 Interior Plants 4 Credits
Discusses the identification, usage, and culture of common interior plants. Topics include selection for various interior environments, interior plant maintenance, and specialty interior plant products.
HLT232 Introduction to LandDesigner Pro 2 Credits
Introduces LandDesigner Pro (Complete Landscape and Garden Designer) software. Student will work through a self paced, guided landscape plan. Student will develop an independent landscape design using this software.
HLT235 Principles of Grading and Drainage 3 Credits
Teaches the grading process and grading methods. The class discusses how to represent grade changes graphically on a site plan and how to interpret those representations during the construction process. The course also discusses how to calculate cut and fill quantities, how to use surveying equipment to establish benchmarks and baselines, and how to use these reference points for site layout.
HLT236 Landscape Construction 4 Credits
Introduces students to the fundamentals of landscape construction, including construction equipment, safety practices, grading, deck, retaining wall, paving, and water feature construction. During labs students construct various landscape elements.
HLT237 Landscape Construction Bidding and Estimating 2 Credits
Discusses the process of bidding for landscape construction. Plan reading, quantity takeoffs, and bidding and estimating practices and processes are covered.
HLT240 Introductory Soil Science 4 Credits
Discusses the formation, physical properties, chemical propertie, and management of soils, emphasizing conditions that affect plant growth. The principles of soil fertility and practice of fertilizer use is also discussed.
HLT242 Turfgrass Management 4 Credits
Discusses the fundamentals of turfgrass establishment and maintenance as it is practiced at different cultural intensities. Topics include the growth and development of turfgrass plants, the turfgrass environment, turfgrass species selection and identification, turfgrass cultural practices, and turfgrass pest management.
HLT243 Golf Turf Management 3 Credits
Discusses all aspects of golf course turfgrass management. Students will be introduced to the design, construction, and cultural requirements of putting greens, tees, fairways, bunkers, and roughs. The course will also address pests and stresses unique to turfgrass in a golf setting, golf course irrigation systems, maintenance equipment, financial management, and the use of golfcourses as wildlife habitat.
HLT244 Sports Turf Management 3 Credits
Discusses all aspects of sports turf management and culture, including the design, construction, and renovation of baseball, football, and soccer fields; safety standards and practices; and non-turf maintenance practices.
HLT245 Green Industry Business Operations 3 Credits
Introduces students to the basics of landscape business management including establishing a business, retail and wholesale marketing and merchandising, and the operations of a landscape business.
HLT250 Landscape Irrigation Design 3 Credits
Focuses on the hydraulic analysis of residential irrigation systems to determine design capacity and working pressure. Irrigation system components are examined and their application explained. Students analyze site conditions and apply their knowledge of hydraulic analysis to produce sample irrigation designs.
HLT251 Landscape Irrigation Field Practices 3 Credits
Applies skills necessary to install a residential system using proper equipment and techniques. They also study the routine maintenance and repair of sprinkler systems, including head adjustment, back-flow prevention device maintenance, and electrical and hydraulic system troubleshooting.
HLT260 Plant Propagation 4 Credits
Teaches the theory, biology, and practical applications of plant propagation technologies. This course discusses propagation by seed, cuttings, budding, grafting, layering, and tissue culture. The course also discusses the propagation environment, techniques of stock plant management, and seed handling.
HLT264 Arboriculture 3 Credits
Discusses plant growth and development as it relates to trees and shrubs, and progresses to methods of planting, tree protection, pruning, and tree care.
HLT265 Arboriculture Field Practice 2 Credits
Stresses the practical application of arboricultural techniques. Industry practices are discussed, including selection, planting, pruning and general care of shade and ornamental trees.
HLT289 Horticulture Capstone 1 Credit
Assists horticulture students in their job search after graduation. This course presents relative information on job site safety, resume writing, and job interviewing techniques.
