Online training course -Arboriculture Management
- Become a manager or supervisor in the field of arboriculture
- Learn the skills needed to run an efficient and viable business or tree crew
- Build your skills in communication, problem solving, managing people, money, equipment and marketing -and more
- Learn to identify hundreds of plants
- Develop a foundation for understanding how to treat trees to best manage their health, growth, decline, and more
COURSE STRUCTURE
This course is comprised of:
This 900 hour course is aimed at those that would like to work as supervisors or managers in this growing field. There are 7 modules plus a 200 hr workplace project in this course. These are the 4 core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate, and three specialist units of study relating to the selection and culture of plants, with an emphasis on trees. The core studies cover office practices, business operations, management and marketing.
- Core studies - Four units (400 hours) of compulsory subjects for all students.
- Elective studies – Three stream units for the development of knowledge in arboriculture
- Project – a workplace project of 200 hrs relevant to your field of study. The project specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study. Contact the school for more information.
CORE UNITS
Totalling 400 hours. All four of these modules must be studied and passed.
1. Office Practices
Develops basic office skills covering use of equipment, communication systems (telephone, fax, etc) and office procedures such as filing, security, workplace organisations, etc.
2. Business operations
Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (eg. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan.
3. Management
Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.
4. Marketing
Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.
STREAM UNITS
1. Arboriculture I
There are eight lessons in this module, as follows:
- Introduction To Arboriculture
- Tree Biology
- Soils In Relation To Trees
- Diagnosing Tree Problems
- Tree Surgery
- Pruning Of Trees
- Arboricultural Equipment
- Workplace Health & Safety.
2. Arboriculture II
There are 7 lessons as follows:
- Planting Techniques
- Controlling Plant Problems
- Strengthening Weak Trees
- Controlling Damage Caused by Plants
- Tree Felling and Stump Removal
- Tolerant Plant Species
- Establishing a Tree Plantation
3. Trees for Rehabilitation
There are ten lessons are as follows...
- Approaches To Land Rehabilitation
- Ecology Of Soils And Plant Health
- Introduction To Seed Propagation Techniques
- Propagation And Nursery Stock.
- Dealing With Chemical Problems
- Physical Plant Effects On Degraded Sites
- Plant Establishment Programs
- Hostile Environments
- Plant Establishment Care
- Rehabilitating Degraded Sites
SUMMARY OF COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED
Here is just some of what you will do.....
- Distinguish between plants in order to identify at least 50 trees.
- Develop a standard tree report form, customised for surveying the condition and use of trees in your locality.
- Explain how to treat three specified soil related problems that can effect trees.
- Develop a twelve month program, for managing a health problem detected by you in an established tree.
- Demonstrate bridge grafting across a bark wound.
- Distinguish between different methods of pruning including: -Canopy reduction -Cleaning out -Topiary -Espaliering
- Determine the minimum equipment required to commence business as a tree surgeon.
- Compare three different chainsaws, to determine appropriate applications for each.
- Determine legislation which is relevant to a specific arborist in a workplace which you visit.
- Explain how to plant a specified advanced-sized tree on a specific site.
- Explain tree injection, including the technique and applications.
- Identify five situations where trees require strengthening operations to be carried out.
- Compare four different ways to control roots which invade underground pipes.
- Calculate the cost of removing a specified tree.
- Determine five appropriate tree species suited to a specific site visited and analysed.
- Devise a method for removing a tree, including tree felling and stump removal.
- Analyse three specimens of mature trees, from each of five different genera, to detect any patterns in problems occurring in those trees.
- Develop criteria for the establishment of a tree plantation on a specific site which addresses; site restrictions, cost and function.
- Compare different approaches to land rehabilitation, to determine strengths and weaknesses of alternative options on a site to be rehabilitated.
- Determine techniques to maximise plant development in land rehabilitation situations.
- Explain the different ways of producing seedling trees for land rehabilitation purposes.
- Determine appropriate plant establishment programs.
- Develop procedures to care for plants, during establishment in an hostile environment.
- Manage the rehabilitation of degraded soil.
- Explain the effect of plants on improving a degraded site, both physically and chemically.
STARTING A PRUNING SERVICE
One thing is a certainty in any garden: plants grow too big and people want them pruned.
Pruning does require skill though. Not all plants are pruned the same way, or with the same equipment. Small to medium pruning jobs can be done with little investment in equipment. The pruning work we are discussing here does not include those jobs normally done by a skilled arborculturist, including tree felling, large branch removal and tree cabling.
These jobs need special expertise and to attempt these large jobs without proper training and equipment can cause damage to the tree, buildings and to yourself.
Pruning can also be very seasonal work, particularly in cooler temperate regions, such as the southern states of Australia. Consider combining such a service with another seasonal work area, such as lawn mowing.
If you intend to provide a pruning service, make sure you are always very clear and specific about what will provided with the service. Many clients will expect that cartage and disposal of the pruned plants will be included in the price. Many councils now charge for tip disposal and burning off can be strictly limited, and some wood simply doesn't burn well. Chipping and using the wood for mulching is also an alternative way to dispose of the materials.
WORKING IN TREE CARE AND TREE SURGERY
Working as a Tree Surgeon is a very demanding job. It requires a high degree of physical fitness, alertness at all times and attention to detail. Much of the work which a tree surgeon is involved in requires working at heights. Handling cutting tools and heavy weights in this situation makes for a great deal of risk, unless the mind is kept sharp, the body healthy and you are always thinking one step ahead of what you are doing. Many groundwork operations are also potentially dangerous (ie: felling, handling chainsaws and chemicals etc).
There is no substitute for education and experience in tree surgery. If you are interested in starting a business, it is advisable to prepare. Formal education in Arboriculture and Tree Surgery is available at most local colleges (see appendix). In addition to study, you should plan to work as part of a tree surgery gang prior to starting out on your own. Insurance and equipment costs can also be quite high, so while the business may be very lucrative, there is a substantial start up cost involved as well. Reputable tree surgeons will be a member of a professional association such as an Arboricultural Association or a Tree Surgeons Guild.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or email us.
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
