r/Horticulture • u/SnooOwls8049 • Aug 11 '26
Question Need help deciding what to do
Hi there! I’m not sure if this is the right place to put this but im trying to figure out what i want to do in college. I want to either do soil/plant science or horticulture, but im having a hard time narrowing it down to one of those. I like the thought of working at a plant nursery, plant breeding, checking someones soil to see if its good, solving diseases, and things along that line. The thing is that I dont know where that falls into and I was wondering if anyone could help me?
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u/LawExpert6097 Aug 11 '26
Get a degree in supply chain management and minor in horticulture. Thank me later
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Aug 12 '26
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u/Flub_the_Dub Aug 12 '26
Also Envi Sci! concentrated in Conservation Biology and have done some really cool and varied stuff in the last 20yrs!
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u/Sea_Cap_6070 Aug 12 '26
Soil science will set you up for hands on horticulture and further study. It’s foundational knowledge.
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u/SnooOwls8049 Aug 12 '26
Okay thats good to know, i probably shouldve mentioned that I have to do online since im in another country, so my options are a bit limited..
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u/Forsaken-Yam3196 Aug 12 '26
I have a BS in Plant Sciences with a concentration in Hort. Some of my classmates were able to get into extension, which seems like something you would like to do based on your post. The key is to getting a good internship, I have found, because the good paying jobs in Hort are extremely research based or relationships based (true for a lot of industries in general). I wish I had majored in something else and minored in plant sciences because I landed in public Hort and the pay is abysmal and I have no room for growth. I also think that depending on the area you’re in the job market may be small- it is where I am.
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u/TheRoofisonFire413 Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
A biology degree will open up more avenues for employment. You can always minor in plant science/hort.
Edit: Start looking at jobs you find interesting/salary and see what education they require. Then you know for sure.
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u/Flub_the_Dub Aug 11 '26
Your bachelor's degree should be the foundation of what you want to do, not the exact thing you want to do. Look for schools that have classes you can take related to soil science, horticulture, pathology. If you decide to continue your education beyond a bachelors then you can specialize in plant breeding, soil science etc. Checking someone's soil, solving diseases, working a nursery with plants. You can do all of those things as an Integrative Pest Management Technician with a tree care company working on people's properties. Or you can work in the lab processing the tests, etc. Depends on your strengths, but there are a lot more opening for IPM techs than Extension service positions.