Course Syllabus

Competency/Objective

 

1. OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE

1. Identify a minimum of five occupations in ornamental horticulture that interest you.

 

1. HORTICULTURAL MECHANICS--CON-STRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE SKILLS

1. Calculate within five percent the amount of materials needed in a given area.
2. List the amounts and kinds of ingredients or materials used in a given walk or patio.
3. Identify the components of typical irrigation systems.

 

1. HORTICULTURAL MECHANICS--MACHIN-ERY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

1. Select, adjust, safely operate, and maintain applicable horticultural machinery or equipment commonly used in your area.

 

1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PLANT SCIENCE

1. Classify a given plant according to its life cycle and botanical class.
2. Identify and label plants as annuals, biennials, and perennials.
3. Label the four major structures (parts) of plants.
4. List the functions of the leaves, stems, roots, and flowers.
5. Label the parts of a complete flower.
6. Define complete flower and incomplete flower.
7. State at least two advantages of the vegetative reproduction of some plants.
8. List two vegetative methods of reproducing plants from below ground parts.
9. List four vegetative means of reproducing plants from above ground parts.
10. Describe the process of photosynthesis in basic terms.
11. Explain the process of respiration in basic terms.
12. List the elements essential for plant growth.
13. Distinguish between major and minor nutrients needed for plant growth.
14. Match symptoms of nutritional deficiencies to their causes.
15. Compare and contrast methods of banding, injection, and/or broadcast fertilizer placement.
16. Calculate the pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in 100 pounds of a given analysis of fertilizer.

 

E   SOILS AND OTHER GROWING MEDIA

1. List the major components of a typical soil.
2. Label a soil profile.
3. Define soil horizon, texture, structure, and pH.
4. Identify four soil surface textures.
5. Identify four levels of permeability.
6. Distinguish between various depths of surface soil and subsoil.
7. Describe and label four categories of drainage.
8. Identify the levels of wind or water erosion.
9. Select land treatments recommended for a given soil site.
10. Gather a soil sample using recommended proce-dures.
11. Complete a soil sample information form.
12. Interpret a soil sample report form.
13. Define the characteristics of the components found in an artificial soil mix.

 

F.  BASIC PEST CONTROL

1. Identify common pests in the greenhouse.
2. Compare and contrast nematicides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, miticides, bactericides, and rodenticides.
3. List at least three types or methods of pest control.
4. List basic forms of chemicals commonly used for pest control.
5. List the major ways pesticides enter the human body.
6. Demonstrate approved safety procedures while handling, applying, cleaning up, and transport-ing chemicals.

 

G.  ORNAMENTAL PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND TAXONOMY

1. Identify the following (25) ornamental plants commonly used for landscaping in South Carolina by common and scientific names:

 

Ground Covers (5):     Ajuga reptans, Bugleflower

                                    Enonymus fortunei, Winter-creeper

                                    Hedera helix, English Ivy

                                    Juniperus conferta, Shore Juniper

                                    Liriope muscari, Lilyturf

 

Shrubs (10):                Ilex cornuta, ‘Carissa’,

                                   Carissa Holly, dwarf evergreen

                                    Ilex vomitoria, ‘Nana’,

                                   Dwarf Yaupon Holly, dwarf evergreen

                                    Nandina domestica,

                                   ‘Harbour Dwarf’, Harbour Dwarf Nandina, dwarf evergreen

Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea, ‘Crimson Pigmy’, Crimson Pigmy Barberry, dwarf, decidduous

                                    Spiraea thunbergii,  Thunberg Spirea, medium, deciduous

                                    Ilex crenata, ‘Compacta’, Compacta Holly, medium, evergreen

                                    Pieris japonica, Japanese Andromeda, medium, evergreen

                                    Forsythia intermedia, Showy Forsythia, large, deciduous

                                    Osmanthus fortunei, Fortune’s Osmanthus, large, evergreen

                                    Ilex, ‘Nellie R. Stevens’, large, evergreen

 

Small Trees (5):     Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple, deciduous

                               Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud, deciduous

                               Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood, deciduous

                               Cupressocyparis leylandii, Leyland Cypress, evergreen

                               Ilex attenuata, ‘Fosteri’, evergreen

 

Large Trees: (5)     Betula nigra, Riverbirch, deciduous

                               Acer saccharinum, Silver Maple, deciduous

                               Quercus nigra, Water Oak, deciduous

                               Pinus strobus, White Pine, evergreen

                               Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia, evergreen

 

Identify five bedding plants and five bulb crops used for home landscaping:

 

      Bedding Plants:                                         Bulb Crops:

      Impatiens wallerana,                                 Narcissus, Daffodil

      Impatiens                                                  Tulipa, Tulip

      Begonia semperflorens,                            Crocus, Crocus

      Wax Begonia                                            Hyacinthus, Hyacinth

      Tagetes, Marigold                                     Gladiolus, Gladiola

      Pelargonium, Geranium

      Zinnia

 

Identify five foliage pot plants and five flowering pot plants used as indoor ornamental plants:

Foliage Pot Plants:                                                Flowering Pot Plants:

      Ficus benjamina,Weeping Fig                  Chrysanthemum, Mum

      Brassaia actinophylla, Schefflera             Euphorbia, Poinsettia

                                                                        Lilium, Easter Lily

      Spathiphyllum, Peace Lily                        Saintpaulia ionantha, African Violet

      Plectranthus australis, Swedish Ivy           Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Kalanchoe

      Zebrina pendula, Wandering Jew

 

Identify selected grasses, including centipede, fescue, bermuda, zoysia, and rye that are commonly used for lawns.

 

1. NURSERY PRODUCTION

1. Select, prepare, and place cuttings using recommended procedures.
2. Pot a selected crop of rooted cuttings.

 

I.   GROWING A FALL GREENHOUSE CROP

1. Identify fall greenhouse crops that are profitably grown in the local community.
2. Prepare the selected fall crop for delivery to a retail outlet.

 

1. GROWING A SPRING GREENHOUSE CROP

1. Identify the bedding plant crops that are most profitably grown in the local community.
2. Prepare a planting calendar for selected green-house crops.
3. Select and prepare a recommended media for a seed flat to germinate bedding plants, including sterilization or treatment as needed.
4. Demonstrate the ability to seed a flat or indivi-dual container using recommended procedures.
5. Transplant selected bedding plant crop using recommended procedures.

 

K.  TURFGRASS ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE

1. Select a recommended turfgrass variety for given use and climate conditions from the following list:  fescue, rye, centipede, bermuda, zoysia, and St. Augustine.
2. Demonstrate the ability to seed, sod, or sprig a selected turfgrass area using recommended procedures.

 

L.  LANDSCAPING DESIGN

1. Prepare a family needs analysis for a landscape design using recommended practices.
2. Prepare a site analysis according to South Carolina Nursery Association (SCNA) standards.
3. Interpret a scale drawing showing the proposed planting plan of the public area, private area, and service area of a home landscape.

 

M. LANDSCAPE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE

1. List commonly used mulching materials.
2. Plant selected shrubs, trees, and ground cover at a landscape site using recommended proce-dures.

 

N.  COMPUTERS IN AGRICULTURE

1. List steps in the proper care of equipment and materials.
2. Perform power on/off or log on/off procedures.
3. Use the keyboard and/or other input devices to operate the computer.
4. Load and run programs.
5. Identify the ways computers are used in agricultural business and industry.

 

O.  LEADERSHIP/COMMUNICATION/FFA

1. Lead a group discussion for five minutes.
2. Identify qualities of successful leaders.
3. Explain the relationship between communication and leadership.
4. Identify three suggestions for improving each of the following skills:  listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the FFA Creed.
6. Handle a customer complaint
7. Demonstrate good interview skills
8. Explain the importance of communications in the workplace
9. Demonstrate a technical writing project.
10. Demonstrate knowledge of history, activities, and purposes of FFA.
11. Identify the basic principles of public speaking.
12. Demonstrate the basic procedures of parliamentary procedure.
13. Conduct a simulated meeting.
14. Identify the functions and purposes of a business team.
15. List the basic steps in problem solving/decision making.
16. Identify the major reasons for setting goals.
17. Identify the steps in developing a positive self-concept.