New professional courses on greenhouses, garden and landscape industries

If your career or career plans involve greenhouses, landscaping, garden centers and related industries, you might want to consider a set of new continuing education classes offered through the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Seven courses for green industry professionals are being offered through the Department of Horticulture and the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) program.

Students can take the courses as part of a green industry certificate program offered through the 17-week FISC program, or select specific courses to meet individual career needs.

Those new to the industry might want to start with an introductory course that starts in November, suggests Eileen Nelson, faculty associate with the horticulture department.

“Introduction to plant science and horticulture is a two-credit course that gives students a solid overview of the breadth of the horticulture industry, plant structure, growth processes and requirements for optimum growth,” Nelson says.

Since the introductory course begins in a few weeks, students should register as soon as possible, Nelson advises.

The remaining classes begin in January or February of 2009:

• Integrated Pest Management for Ornamentals, Jan. 5-9, 2009 (online registration available)
• Greenhouse Management, Jan. 12-16, 2009 (online registration available)
• Identification and Culture of Herbaceous Plants, Jan. 20-Feb. 6, 2009
• Garden Center Operations, Jan. 20-Feb. 5, 2009
• Identification and Culture of Woody Plants, Feb. 9-March 17, 2009
• Landscape Construction and Maintenance, Feb. 10-March 26, 2009 (online registration available)

Students can register for any of these courses through the Farm and Industry Short Course program by calling (608) 263-3918. For three of the courses — Green house management, integrated pest management for ornamentals, and landscape construction and maintenance — students also have the option of registering online through UW Conference Services.

The registration deadline for all classes is two weeks prior to the start of the specific class. Students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on the courses, contact Eileen Nelson by email at eonelson@wisc.edu or by phone at (608) 265-5283.