How to become a landscape and horticulture technician or specialist
Official title: Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
Also called: Landscape designer, Landscape gardener, Landscape technician, Lawn care specialist, Plantscape technician, Cultivation technician, Hydroponics technician, Horticulture specialist, Horticulture technician, Tree service technician, Horticultural technician, Landscape horticulturist
Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists survey and assess landscapes; draw sketches and build models of landscape designs; construct and maintain gardens, parks, golf courses and other landscaped environments; advise clients on issues related to horticulture such as irrigation; breed, cultivate and study plants; and treat injured and diseased trees and plants. They are employed by landscape designers and contractors, lawn service and tree care establishments, golf courses, nurseries and greenhouses, and municipal, provincial and national parks, or they may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Arborists and tree service technicians
- Examine trees and shrubs to diagnose problems and disease, and apply various treatments such as pruning, spraying, repairing damaged areas and injecting with treatment solutions
- Golf course superintendents
- Direct crews who maintain the health and appearance of golf courses and their surrounding landscapes, plant and move trees, and apply fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides
- Horticulturists
- Plan and coordinate the growth and use of plants for landscaping, ornamental uses and other purposes
- Landscape designers and landscape architectural technicians and technologists
- Survey and assess sites, prepare drawings, sketches and reports and perform other duties to assist landscape architects in designing landscaped environments
How to become one
Completion of a two-to-three year college program in agronomy, arboriculture, horticulture, landscaping, landscape design or landscape technology is usually required. Experience as a landscape and grounds maintenance labourer may be required for golf course superintendents, landscape gardeners and landscapers. An apprenticeship program is available for horticulturists, arboriculturists and landscape gardeners. Trade certification for landscape horticulturists is available, but voluntary, in all provinces. A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required. In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body is required to use the title of Professional Technologist. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified landscape horticulturists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. An apprenticeship program is available for horticulturists, arboriculturists and landscape gardeners. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
- Licence or registration: A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required. In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body is required to use the title of Professional Technologist.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $58,500 a year The middle half earn $48,009 to $68,250.
- About 15,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 17,200 are projected by 2033. (+13.9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Biological technologists and technicians
- Agricultural and fish products inspectors
- Forestry technologists and technicians
- Conservation and fishery officers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a landscape and horticulture technician or specialist?
Completion of a two-to-three year college program in agronomy, arboriculture, horticulture, landscaping, landscape design or landscape technology is usually required. Experience as a landscape and grounds maintenance labourer may be required for golf course superintendents, landscape gardeners and landscapers. An apprenticeship program is available for horticulturists, arboriculturists and landscape gardeners. Trade certification for landscape horticulturists is available, but voluntary, in all provinces. A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required. In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body is required to use the title of Professional Technologist. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified landscape horticulturists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
How much does a landscape and horticulture technician or specialist earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $58,500 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $48,009 to $68,250.
Is a landscape and horticulture technician or specialist a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2033, from about 15,100 to about 17,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a landscape and horticulture technician or specialist?
Usually not. Only 18% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03