For students in MATC’s Landscape Horticulture program, a “walk in the park” means more than a stroll; it’s an outdoor classroom where they learn to build and cultivate their careers. The eastern side of the Mequon Campus is so meticulously cared for that some have nicknamed it “the Country Club.” “The lush grounds with carefully designed beds of shrubs and flowers among the trees have earned this reputation,” chuckles Emma Ray, an educational assistant in the program.
These grounds provide hands-on training that goes beyond the basics. Students design, install and maintain the park-like area—except for mowing the grass. Here, they master everything from plant identification and arboriculture (the care of trees) to hardscaping, which includes laying brick, gravel and paving stones as well as building decks and retaining walls. The program also equips students with vital business skills, like budgeting, estimating and bidding.
From Dirt to Design
The practical training extends to a dedicated equipment testing site, out of public view beyond the east parking lot. This space allows students to master a wide range of machinery, from large equipment like skid steers, backhoes and excavators to smaller tools such as bed edgers, aerators and sod cutters.
“About half of the time in fall semester classes is spent outdoors,” says Joe Dietz, a full-time instructor. With snow often holding off until after the semester, students get plenty of time in the field. Spring semester, however, begins with indoor work, and students move outdoors for the final four to six weeks once the cold weather breaks.
Before they can climb trees with a helmet and harness, students first practice sending a throwball over a log suspended from the 19-foot ceiling in the large shop, which also houses much of the program’s equipment. After this target practice, they move on to tying knots and setting climbing and rigging lines.
A Platform for Competition and Growth
Every year since 1977, MATC has sent a team to compete in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC). The annual March event features a series of high-stakes challenges, from interior and exterior landscape design to plant diagnosis and construction cost estimating. A popular event tests competitors’ ability to skillfully navigate large equipment through a challenging obstacle course.
The Spring 2025 competition, which took place at Colorado State University, saw 12 MATC students compete against more than 700 students from 54 schools and score in the top 25%. Looking ahead, the NCLC will be hosted by Michigan State University from March 18-21, 2026.
The student-led Horticulture Club helps fund these experiences through fundraising. This school year’s fundraisers include a poinsettia sale leading up to the December holidays and a spring plant sale on Mother’s Day weekend. The first day of each sale is open to MATC students and staff, while the second day welcomes the public.
Cultivating a Career
In the greenhouse, the poinsettias for this winter’s sale began their journey in July as small “plugs,” which were then transplanted into pots. After one month, they had already grown four inches. All the plants in the greenhouse are cared for with a mix of manual pest control, automated misters and grow lights, with a cooling system of roof ventilation and shade curtains used in the summer.
Upon graduation, students enter a variety of fields, finding employment in landscape design, tree care, plant production, garden centers, county parks and even sports field maintenance. The program prepares them for more than just a job; it cultivates a deep connection to the environment, empowering them to shape the world one landscape at a time.
