March 20, 2023
Introductory Horticulture Training 2023

Landscape Ontario's Garden Centre Sector Group is thrilled to announce a series of FREE online training programs specific to the needs of Independent Garden Centres.

This live Zoom training program is available to all new and returning employees of independent garden centres in Ontario. Don't worry if you cannot make it, all modules will be recorded for future viewing. 

You have hired the right people, now we want to assist you in getting your employees trained and up-to-speed on introductory horticulture specifically aimed at garden centre employees. There will be three 1.5-hour modules, presented one week apart that will go a long way in getting your new and returning employees trained on industry terminology and common practices.

We can all agree that training is essential and valuable, however, the garden centres in Ontario go from being very quiet to sprinting within a few weeks. Between hiring, receiving products, and forecasting business, there is so much on each owner operators plate in a short period of time. Far too often, training is done on the fly. Basically sink or swim. The Garden Centre Sector Group is here to help you, and to make things even better, it is 100 per cent free to employers and the employees of IGC's in Ontario. Each business can choose how it will compensate its employees for the training. Each week, we will cover different topics. What we do not cover is how you run your business, however, we will go through the differences between annuals, perennials, trees shrubs, evergreens and much more. Each module will have a quiz, which is returned to the employee.

The sessions will be interactive with opportunities to ask questions. Most importantly, the knowledge is presented from a garden centre's perspective.


art vanden enden

Speaker: Art Vanden Enden

Art Vanden Enden loved every minute of his 44-year garden centre career with Weall and Cullen and Sheridan Nurseries. In retirement, Art enjoys giving back to the profession with Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre Sector Group and sharing his experience with Landscape Trades readers in the Art of Gardening column.

Training Schedule

 
Session Description
Module 1
April 13, 2023
Introduction to Botany Theory

RECORDING REPLAY ACCESS 
Module 2
April 20, 2023

 
Applied Watering, Soils and Fertilizers

RECORDING REPLAY ACCESS 
Module 3
April 27, 2023
Start: 5:30 PM

Finish: 7:00 PM
Turf Maintenance Theory
  • The Science Behind Watering
  • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Lawns
  • Watering Considerations
  • Aeration
  • Dethatching 
  • Top Dressing
  • Fertilizing
  • Weeds, Pests and Diseases
  • Transportation and Handling
Quiz

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