Urban Horticulture

Urban Horticulture emphasizes the relationship of plants and people in city environments. Because of our unique southwestern desert location, our goal is to teach urban horticulture students at ASU's Polytechnic campus how to practice principles and develop skills that help to create aesthetically-pleasing urban environments coupled to an ethos of environmental conservation and stewardship. Students can gain expertise in a diverse array of topics such as landscape plant identification culture and use; creation of public and private gardens in arid climates; best management practices of landscape planting and irrigation design; installation and maintenance; xeriscape and water conservation; integrated pest management; installation and management of golf, sports and recreational turf grass; plant propagation and greenhouse/nursery management.

Urban Horticulture is a multi-billion dollar national and international enterprise that offers a diverse and exciting choice of professional careers. Urban horticulturists can be plant propagators or growers, landscape designers or contractors, professional golf course or sports turf superintendents, city horticulturists or park managers, urban plant ecologists, interior plant specialists, organic farmers, or plant researchers and educators. The list of career paths is only limited by one's creativity and talents.

Career opportunities for our urban horticulture graduates are not limited to any one geographic location. Urban Horticulture graduates embark on careers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and overseas; however, the majority choose to remain in the southwestern United States.

View the Urban Horticulture Check Sheet