Phipps Gardening Certificate Programs

Jump to a section:

• Ecological Gardening
• Landscape and Garden Design
• Certificate Requirements
• Core Course Descriptions
• Outside Credits
• Instructor Bios

Phipps offers two certificates related to landscape design and gardening practices, they are Ecological Gardening and Landscape and Garden Design. These certificates consist of courses that teach best management practices necessary for designing aesthetically pleasing properties with positive impacts on the environment and essential knowledge on how to best use native plants for habitat and ecosystem preservation. 

Ecological Gardening

A certificate in Ecological Gardening from Phipps Conservatory will give you a strong foundation in good gardening practices as well as a holistic look at the native plants and ecosystems of Western Pennsylvania. With this background you will be able to create gardens and residential landscapes that reflect an understanding of natural systems and provide beautiful places of refuge for people and local wildlife. Courses will cover botany and plant science as well as sustainable plants (those which are well suited to local conditions and won’t take over, including natives) and how to identify plants in the field. Garden plant propagation will be explored along with the practical skills of maintaining the health of a garden using organic strategies. The certificate includes a look at the ecosystems of Western Pennsylvania and concludes with a course on home garden design.  

The study of Ecological Gardening is for those who have a vision of their yards or gardens as ecological havens which provide for a community of wildlife and create an ecosystem of which the designer is a part. Our students are both homeowners and land care professionals looking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of local ecology and how to create more sustainable landscapes. Our qualified instructors will help you meet your goals as they lead you through a final design project and guide you toward the receipt of a certificate.

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Landscape and Garden Design

A certificate in Landscape and Garden Design from Phipps Conservatory will give you the background and hands on experience necessary for designing gardens and small-scale business and residential landscapes. After completing the program, you will confidently be able to draft a design to be used for garden implementation. Many of our students are land care providers seeking professional development or Master Gardeners and homeowners looking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of landscape design practices. Our qualified instructors will help you meet your goals as they lead you through a capstone project and guide you toward the receipt of a certificate. 

The objective of the Landscape and Garden Design certificate program is to prepare the student to apply the basic design principles and techniques in order to create aesthetically pleasing, environmentally responsible landscapes. Utilizing graphic skills and plant knowledge, students will work through the design process to develop a finished presentation. A series of electives will further enhance the student’s understanding of sustainable practices that help protect soil health, water resources, air quality and land usage.

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Certificate Requirements

To receive a certificate, students must satisfactorily complete the core courses for each program included below, as well as 20 hours of electives. Please note that Sustainable Gardening Principles and Practices as well as Sustainable Landscape Plants are core classes for both programs.  

Core Courses

 

 

Electives - 20 hours are required for both programs, offered year-round.

 

NOTE: These certificates are designed to be completed in one year and you can begin taking core classes and electives at any point. It is possible to complete this program in one year, depending on your choice of electives and availability to attend classes when offered. It can, however, be completed over a longer period. All core classes will be offered annually while electives will change. Click the button below to find qualifying electives. Course descriptions will be labeled with elective eligibility for each program.  

View Classes

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Core Course Descriptions

Botany for Gardeners
Objective: To begin understanding and appreciating how plants function in the garden. 
Why does a seed germinate or fail to germinate? Why are cut flowers collected early in the morning? What happens to plant tissues under attack by insects and fungi? Take a fascinating look at how plants grow. Topics will focus directly on botanical principles that relate to gardening: plants and their importance to man; stems, leaves and roots, factors affecting plant growth, reproduction, fruits and flowers. 

Ecology and the Designed Landscape
Objective: To be able to apply the basic concepts of plant ecology and local plant communities to the designed landscape. 
The fields of ecology and landscape architecture “grew up” together in the late 19th century. Their close alliance was nearly lost in the mid-20th century but has since been rediscovered as interest in ecological landscape design and sustainability has grown. Students in this course will explore the basics of plant ecology and the plant communities of western Pennsylvania and then learn to apply these ideas to the designed landscape. A field trip to a new plant community-based landscape will help students see how these principles can be applied. 

Field Botany
Objective: To identify plants in the field using a dichotomous key. 
Hone your skills and gain experience in identifying plants using a dichotomous key. In addition to spending time in the field, take part in a classroom lecture that will familiarize you with botanical Latin, floral structures, family characteristics and plant communities to aid in the process of plant identification.  

Hardscape in Design
Objective: To use hardscape effectively as an integral part of a landscape design and be able to install small DIY hardscapes. 
Hardscape defines a space and adds dimension and ornamentation, so it must be considered in the overall design process. Learn the basics of material selection, construction and drainage, as well as tips for completing simple DIY hardscape projects such as stone walkways and small retaining walls.  

Home Garden Design
Objective: To complete a map of a small property or garden and develop concept maps in order to develop the best ideas for a final planting plan.  
Home garden design is more than selecting plants for a project, it is the integration of all the elements and spaces that affect our outdoor living environment. In this course you will be introduced to the objectives and principles that are essential to developing a strong design solution for yourself all the while you'll be introduced to new garden and design ideas to help grow your design acumen. Classes will cover how to determine your goals, draw to scale and complete site analysis and assessment. You will learn how to take these skills, draw your garden design and create a conceptual garden plan for yourself or family. NOTE: There is a lot to cover in the class and some time spent working on designs at home will be necessary.  

Landscape Design I: Landscape Graphics
Objective: To begin to be able to use acceptable freehand and drafting techniques that will produce legible landscape drawings. 
Designers use graphics to develop and communicate ideas that do not yet exist. Working with pencil, learn freehand and mechanical drawing techniques. Topics include lettering, sheet layout and title blocks, concept drawing and presentation plan graphics and colored renderings. NOTE: There is a lot to cover in the class and some time spent working on activities at home will be necessary.    

Landscape Design II: Overview & Design Preparation
Objective: To be able to understand and demonstrate the logical process of landscape design. 
Learn practical aspects of developing a landscape including site analysis, surveying and graphics, regulations and restrictions, soil and natural communities. Using a site specified by the instructor, you will develop a site inventory and landscape plan, practicing skills which can be used for your own landscape. A materials list will be provided by the instructor.  

Landscape Design III: Principles of Design
Objective: To understand and to begin applying the principles of aesthetics and design, including form, scale, rhythm, axis, color and texture, to landscapes. 
This course will explain design principles which will then be reinforced in class with exercises in both two and three dimensions. You will analyze the use of these design concepts in landscapes through slides, photos, magazines and a field trip. 

Landscape Design IV: Design Development
Objective: To gain experience and graphic skills necessary to complete a master plan. 
Utilizing skills learned in Landscape Design I through III, the student will work through design development to create a master plan. Bring to first class: engineer’s scale; straight edge triangles (45° and 30°-60°-90°); mechanical pencils: 1 soft lead, 1 hard lead; chisel point black marker; extra-fine point black “sharpie” marker; small roll tracing paper (bum wad). This is a core course in the Landscape & Garden Design certificate program. 

Landscape Design V: Capstone Project
Objective: To complete a landscape design, incorporating the skills and processes learned in the core curriculum of the landscape design program, and drawing on knowledge acquired in the elective courses. 
This course is the culminating project of the core part of the Landscape & Garden Design certificate program. Using a specified design project specified by the instructor, the student will work to develop a final design, including a planting plan.  

Plant Propagation
Objective: To master the techniques of plant propagation for landscape plants. 
Plant propagation is a valuable skill and one that is easier to master than you may think. An interactive, hands-on approach will lead you through the basics of producing new plants via seeds, cuttings and division. You’ll practice the art of propagating perennials, annuals, woody plants and vegetables and take home the results. NOTE: This class will not cover house plant propagation.  

Sustainable Gardening Principles and Practices  
Objective: To develop an understanding of current horticultural practices that are environmentally friendly and will result in a healthy, attractive landscape. 
Current research-based horticultural practices provide a solid foundation for growing successful and sustainable gardens. This course will cover how to properly select and install native and sustainable plants, ensuring the right plant for the right place. Students will participate in hands-on demonstrations including soil preparation and the use of organic amendments, proper planting and mulching techniques, watering and maintenance practices. Participants will be introduced to proper pruning practices, IPM (integrated pest management), biological controls for pests and diseases, pollinator friendly practices and control of invasive species.  

Sustainable Landscape Plants 
Objective: Students will be able to name a wide variety of landscape plants and discuss their cultural requirements and landscape uses. 
Sustainable plants are those which are non-invasive, have minimal pest and disease issues and are well-suited to the climate and soils of gardens in southwestern Pennsylvania. Sustainable plants are also those which provide ecological services such as host plants for butterflies, nectar and pollen producers for bees and other pollinators and seeds and berries for birds. Native plants fit this definition along with many other wonderful landscape plants. In this class, students will become familiar with many landscape plants (perennials, trees and shrubs, etc.) learning their cultural requirements, how they grow and be able to identify them. This class is both lecture based and field study, as students have the opportunity to see these plants in the landscape.

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Outside Credits

If you have recently attended a university course or other continuing education program which you think could be applied to credits in an existing core course, please contact the Adult Education Administrative Assistant at 412-441-4442, ext. 3925. 

Successful completion of Phipps Sustainable Landcare Accreditation training will count toward the Sustainable Gardening Principles and Practices course as well as 10 elective credits. 

Successful completion of Phipps Master Gardener training will count toward the Sustainable Gardening Principles and Practices course as well as 15 elective credits. 

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Instructor Bios

 

Photos © Louis Ruediger and Kitoko Chargois | Designs by Sam Costa and Nando Fratangelo