Becoming a Horticulturalist

September 18th, 2009, 12:12 am

Jobs in the field of horticulture include, but are not limited to, maintaining formal gardens, caring for golf courses, cemeteries and parks. The job can entail spraying for weeds or pests, spreading fertilizer , watering the flowers or plants, mowing lawns and/or caring for and pruning shrubs and trees. It may also include the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers. One would need to have a basic knowledge of how the machinery used in these types of jobs works. Good communication skills are required to be able to speak with clients.

To become a horticulturist you must finish High School and then enter a college program to study horticulture. You may also be able to use employment as an apprentice, but you will need 4500 hours as a nursery worker or a landscape keeper in horticulture jobs order to be able to take the test for certification.

If you are interested in a job in the field of horticulture, you can be employed as a nursery worker or in a green house. You could also work for, or start your own business in the field of landscaping. The work itself is very demanding in a physical sense. You will get dirty, lift heavy objects such as trees and shrubs, and have to deal with whatever the weather elements are during that particular time. During the peak season of planting and mowing you will probably have to put in quite a few hours of overtime. Working inside a nursery or store with an inside garden department would offer somewhat better conditions. You may also be employed by a local florist or agricultural firm.

Wages for a beginning horticulturist are less then those with years of experience.The average earnings for this type of career is from $15,000 to $40,000 per year, but would be adjusted accordingly to how many hours you wish to put in at the job and how ambitious you are.

Building your patio – introduction

June 13th, 2008, 6:03 am

The other major factors that will determine your patio design are your budget and the amount of space available. Would you like to have your patio connected to your home? If so the building and design process will most likely be much tougher. Building a patio away from your home requires more room but you don’t have to work about working around the home. You’ll also need to analyze what you are currently working with. Are you starting from scratch? Or is there a patio or concrete slab already in the intended building location? This will play a major role in your design as well.

Your design possibilities are truly endless. You can make your wildest dreams become reality. You’ll want to look into patio furniture if you intend to use your patio as a place of relaxation. This plays into your patio design as well. Your design must allow enough room to play chairs, benches, and tables. If you plan on barbequing on your patio you’ll need to design your patio to leave enough room for your grill. Always add these items to your design. The more detailed your design is the better. Building your patio around your pool is a good idea too. It gives you room to sit and relax while others swim.