Horticultural Technicians
Job description
These individuals study plants and trees; they cultivate and care for them. They advise customers on horticultural matters. They are self-employed or work for:
- Lawn care and tree care service companies
- Parks
- Nurseries and greenhouses
- Municipalities
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Hazardous chemical
- Odours
Main tasks
- Examine trees and shrubs to identify problems and diseases.
- Prune, spray, repair, and inject treatment solutions in damaged areas.
- Lead landscaping staff.
- Plant and transplant trees.
- Apply fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.
- Plan and coordinate the growth of plants for landscaping.
- Study and analyze soils.
- Prepare drawings and sketches.
- Draft reports
- Plant and maintain lawns and gardens.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
College
DCS in paysage et commercialisation en horticulture ornementale (Aménagement paysager)
Placement rate: 100%
DCS in technologie de la production horticole agroenvironnementale
Placement rate: 59.6%
27.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
- A certificate for the sale and use of pesticides (e.g. CD4 certificate) may be required.
- A Class 3 or 5 driver’s licence is often required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Operations and control
Abilities
- Limb coordination
- Manual dexterity
- Core strength
- Control accuracy
- Static muscle power
- Hand-arm stability
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Awareness of issues
- Endurance
- Near vision
- Visualization
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to work in a team
- Sense of initiative
- Assiduity and punctuality
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Availability
Interests
- Self-employment
- Work manually
- Work in contact with nature and animals
- Assist and advise
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists (CNP 22114)
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026