Landscape and Parks Maintenance
Certificate of Achievement Landscape Horticulture · Merritt College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Description
The Landscape and Parks Maintenance Certificate of Achievement provides training for students interested in working in the field of landscape and parks maintenance. The curriculum provides advanced studies in horticulture, plant ID and maintenance practices, and provides foundational training towards working for parks and recreation departments, golf courses, public works, landscape maintenance companies, or starting one’s own landscape maintenance business.
A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the certificate requirements specified below.
Career Opportunities
Career Opportunities may include Park Landscape Maintenance Technician; Groundskeeper; Grounds Maintenance Worker; Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers; Park Maintenance Assistant; Park Maintenance Aide; and Skilled Laborer.
Learning Outcome(s)
- Demonstrate sustainable management of parks and gardens including soil management, plant nutrition and tree care.
- Demonstrate maintenance business practices utilizing state-of-the-art tools.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | 42 | |
| Core Courses: | 24 | |
| LANHT 10 | Insect Pests | 3 |
| LANHT 11 | Plant Diseases and Their Management | 3 |
| LANHT 16 | Soil Management | 3 |
| LANHT 19 | Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| LANHT 23 | Plant Terminology | 2.5 |
| LANHT 26 | Pruning | 0.5 |
| LANHT 81 | Arborist Equipment Fundamentals | 2 |
| LANHT 84 | Applied Structural Pruning | 2 |
| LANHT 206 | Landscape Business Practices | 3 |
| LANHT 210A | Landscape Design Forum I | 2 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| LANHT 1 | Introduction to Landscape Horticulture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 1E | Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Evening) | 3 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| LANHT 2 | Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 2E | Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| LANHT 4 | Plant Materials: Shrubs ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 4E | Plant Materials: Shrubs ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| LANHT 5A | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EA | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 5B | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EB | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| LANHT 13 | Arboriculture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 13E | Arboriculture (Evening) | 3 |
| Choose One: | 3 | |
| LANHT 17 | Irrigation with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 17E | Irrigation (Evening) | 3 |