In-Person Program
Landscape & Garden Design Certificate
Program Overview
The UT Landscape & Garden Design Certificate course is tailored for household enthusiasts, avid gardeners, landscaping experts, and other relevant professionals. The program delivers a foundational and specialized skill set vital for excelling in gardening, home landscape design, core horticultural concepts, and optimal plant choices.
Taught by David Montgomery, who holds a degree in plant and soil science and has more than 25 years of experience as a landscape designer.
Students must complete two required courses and six electives to earn the Landscape & Garden Design Certificate.
All courses are held at UT Morgan Hall (room 226) unless otherwise noted.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The UT Landscape & Garden Design Certificate program is designed for homeowners, gardeners, landscapers, and related professionals. Explore your interest in gardening as a hobby, for professional growth and development, or to broaden your knowledge of horticulture. The curriculum provides the fundamental and specialty skills necessary for achieving success in the areas of gardening, residential landscape design, horticultural principles, and appropriate plant selection.
To qualify for the Landscape & Garden Design Certificate, you must complete two required courses and six electives. You’ll have three years from the start of your first course to complete the certificate. A minimum of 75 percent attendance is required for all certificate candidates. Courses also may be taken individually.
Program Courses & Electives
Please click the course titles below for details.
Core Courses:
Electives:
Lawn Care & Fertilization (March 15, 2025)
Soil Analysis & Conditioning (March 29, 2025)
Home Hardscapes: Construction Tips & Techniques (April 12, 2025)
Pruning: Art & Science (April 26, 2025)
Water Features, Gardens, & Fountains (May 10, 2025)
Residential Landscape Renovation (May 17, 2025)
Lawn Care & Fertilization (Sept. 13, 2025)
Pruning: Art & Science (Sept. 27, 2025)
Tree Selection: Attributes, Issues, & Maintenance (Oct. 7 & 14, 2025)
Composting: Life from Dead Stuff (Oct. 25, 2025)
Advanced Landscape Design: Beyond the Ordinary (Nov. 8, 2025)
Student Testimonial
Through the Landscape & Garden Design Certificate, I was able to cultivate the skills and best techniques necessary to properly design and install my own landscape and hardscape concepts. Moreover, I acquired a much more expansive knowledge of local resources, including the instructor’s extensive proprietary plant selection list for our East Tennessee growing zones, which truly made my dream garden outstanding.
Mary Woody, Former Landscape and Design Certificate Student
Meet Your Instructor
David Montgomery
David Montgomery is the instructor for the UT Landscape & Garden Design Certificate. With a degree in plant and soil science and more than 25 years of experience as a landscape designer, he is highly knowledgeable in horticultural sales, landscape maintenance, and installation.
An instructor of horticultural topics since 2000, Montgomery’s main emphasis, in all courses, is presenting practical, usable knowledge to those who want a visually stimulating and low-maintenance landscape.
Register Today
To qualify for the Landscape & Garden Design Certificate, you must complete two required courses and six electives.
