Garden Design Certificate Program
Garden Design Certificate Program
The Garden Design Certificate (GDC) consists of a unique curriculum that provides the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a garden design professional. It features a solid foundation in plantsmanship and science-based gardening techniques, both of which are essential to creating successful gardens for a wide spectrum of projects—from private residences to municipal plantings.
Who should participate? Aspiring professional garden designers, and gardeners and garden designers seeking professional development. There are no prerequisites to start the program, and no prior horticulture experience is needed.
Student Resources
Questions?
Program Requirements
The program requirements include 23 required courses and 24 instructional hours of elective courses. Botany 1 is recommended to take first or early in your curriculum given it is a prerequisite for many other courses. Students on average complete this program within three years. All requirements for the certificate must be completed within seven years of the start date of our first core course. For the certificate, a grade of at least 70 percent must be achieved for each core course.
Ready to get started? Begin your journey with Botany 1, Soil Basics, or any of the four Gardening Techniques courses.
Garden Design Required Courses | Prerequisites |
| Botany 1 | |
| Botany 2 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session A | |
| Gardening Techniques: Session B | |
| Gardening Techniques: Session C | |
| Gardening Techniques: Session D | |
| Soil Basics | |
| Plant Health 1 | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 2 | Plant Health 1 |
| Annuals and Biennials | Botany 1 |
| Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens | Botany 1 |
| Decidous Flowering Shrubs | Botany 1 |
| Decidous Trees | Botany 1 |
| Ground Covers and Vines | Botany 1 |
| Hardy Bulbs | Botany 1 |
| Herbaceous Perennials | Botany 1 |
| Small Flowering Trees | Botany 1 |
| Graphics | |
| Introduction to Professional Practice | Graphics (can be taken concurrently) |
| Principles of Garden Design | Graphics & Introduction to Professional Practice |
| Hardscape Basics | Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice & Principles of Garden Design |
| Introduction to Grading and Drainage | Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice & Principles of Garden Design |
| Planting Design | Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design & Hardscape Basics |
| Garden Design Implementation | Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design, Hardscape Basics, and Introduction to Grading |
| Garden Design Studio | Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design, Hardscape Basics, and Garden Design |
CHOICE OF TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES |
| Gardening Techniques: Session A |
| Gardening Techniques: Session B |
| Gardening Techniques: Session C |
| Gardening Techniques: Session D |
GDC Elective Courses |
24 instructional hours of GDC elective credit is required |
Available Classes
If a class is sold out, please contact us at (847) 835-6801 to be placed on the waitlist. The Garden will contact you if a space becomes available.
Graphics
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate
and Garden Design Certificate
10 Thursdays:
January 15 – March 19
6 – 8:30 p.m. and
2 Saturdays:
January 24 & 31
1 – 3 p.m.
Gardening Techniques | Session B
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate
and Garden Design Certificate
6 Tuesdays:
January 20 – February 24
5 – 6 p.m. (online) and
6 Saturdays:
January 24 – February 28
10 a.m. – noon (classroom 1)
(rain date Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. – noon)
Introduction to Grading and Drainage
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
8 Mondays:
January 26 – March 23
6:30 – 9 p.m.
(no class February 16) and
2 Saturdays:
March 7 & 14
2 – 5 p.m.
Plant Health 1 | Online
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 1,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 2
and Certificate Garden Design
6 Tuesdays & 6 Thursdays:
January 27 – March 5
6 – 8 p.m.
Designing with Plant Layers | Online
Garden Design Certificate
Wednesday, January 28
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Perennial Plant Combinations | Online
Garden Design Certificate
Saturday, February 7
1 – 3 p.m.
Introduction to Professional Practice
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate
and Garden Design Certificate
11 Wednesdays:
February 11 – April 15
6:30 – 9 p.m. Online and
2 Saturdays:
February 28 and March 28
1 – 4 p.m. On-site
The Power of Color in Landscape Design
Garden Design Certificate
Saturday, March 21
9 – 11 a.m.
Hardy Bulbs
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
March 24 – May 5
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Meet at Visitor Center.
6 Saturdays:
March 28 – May 2
8 – 10 a.m.
Also includes Garden Walks.
Gardening Techniques | Session C
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
March 26 – April 30
5 – 6 p.m. (online) and
6 Saturdays:
March 28 – May 2
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (classroom 5)
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials, Professional Gardener Level 1 and 2, and Garden Design Certificates
5 Mondays & 5 Wednesdays:
April 6 – May 6
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Landscape Design for Energy Efficiency | Online
Garden Design Certificate
Saturday, April 11
1 – 3 p.m.
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 16 – May 21
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 9
1 – 4 p.m.
Principles of Garden Design
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
8 Wednesdays:
May 6 – June 24
6:30 – 9 p.m.
and
2 Saturdays:
April 16 and June 6
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Landscape Graphics Studio Workshop
Garden Design Certificate
3 Thursdays:
May 7 – May 21
6 – 8 p.m.
Small Flowering Trees
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
May 12 – June 30
no class May 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Also includes Garden Walks. Meet at Visitor Center.
6 Saturdays:
May 16 – June 27
no class May 30
8 – 10 a.m.
Botany 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 and Certificate Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays:
June 1 – June 25
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Hardscape Basics
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
Online 9 Thursdays:
September 10 – November 5
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
On-site 2 Saturdays:
October 3 & 24
2 – 5 p.m.