Distance Learning Ornamental Horticulture Course
- for anyone working or wanting to work in care of gardens -private or public
- build a foundation in all of the things a gardener might need to deal with from pruning and pest control to fertilizing and mowing grass
- develop general and broad based skills in horticultural practices and plant identification.
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learn more specific knowledge in areas of ornamental horticulture including garden maintenance, turf care, arboriculture, landscaping and nursery work.
Course Structure and Content
Certificate in Horticulture involves the areas of work:
- CORE STUDIES - this involves at least 300 hours, divided into 15 lessons, approx. half of the course.
- ELECTIVE STUDIES - this involves a further 300 hrs of study going into greater depth in the areas of garden maintenance, nursery practices and landscaping.
CORE STUDIES:
1. Introduction to Plants
Nomenclature and taxonomy, the plant kingdom, genus, species, hybrids.
2. Parts of the Plant
How plants grow, plant structure, parts of the flower and leaf, modification of stems and roots.
3. Plant Culture - Planting
How to plant and protect newly planted specimens, terms like: annuals, biennials, perennials, deciduous,
evergreen and herbaceous plants.
4. Plant Culture - Pruning
Purpose for pruning, rules for pruning, how to prune.
5. Plant Culture - Irrigation and Machinery
Different irrigation systems, components of an irrigation system, designing an irrigation system, selection, use and maintenance of machinery and tools.
6. Soils & Media
Soil classifications, testing soil, potting mixes, the U.C. System, ingredients of potting mixes.
7. Soils & Nutrition
Fertilisers - deficiencies and toxicities, N:P:K ratios, salting, fertiliser programming, compost.
8. Propagation - Seeds & Cuttings
How to propagate plants by seed and cuttings, propagating mixes, cold frame construction, after care for young plants.
9. Propagation - Other Techniques
Other methods to increase plant numbers - budding, grafting, layering, division and tissue culture.
10. Identification and Use of Plants
How are plants used in the landscape, how to choose and purchase plants, selecting plants suitable for the climate and site.
11. Identification and Use of Plants
Problems with plants and choosing plants for problem sites.
12. Identification and Use of Plants
Indoor and tropical plants, flowers, herbs, bulbs, ferns.
13. Pests
Identifying and controlling pests, chemical and natural methods for control, chemical safety precautions.
14. Diseases
Identifying and controlling diseases, plant pathology, fungi, viruses, non-pathogenic problems, interactions with the host and the environment.
15. Weeds
Identifying and controlling weeds, chemical terminology.
STREAM STUDIES: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE
This part of the course involves four main areas of study, as follows:
*Landscaping *Plant knowledge *Plant Care *Nursery Practices
Scope of stream studies:
- Landscape design (including pre-planning and drawing plans).
- Principles and styles of landscape designs.
- Analysis of garden designs.
- Graphic skills, materials and techniques.
- Estimating costs for landscape jobs.
- Surfacing materials and their effects.
- Quality and cost of different landscape materials.
- Plant knowledge, both native and exotic, suitable for local conditions.
- Plant selection for difficult sites and conditions (including treating degraded sites and interior plantscaping).
- Tropical and indoor plants.
- Environmental factors important for indoor plant culture.
- Bulbs, perennials and annuals.
- Planting design for flower beds (annuals and bulbs) suitable for your locality.
- Herb culture and garden design.
- Miscellaneous growing techniques including; bonsai, terrariums, pot culture, baskets and hydroponics.
- Describe the importance of trees to humans.
- Procedures for the proper and safe removal of a limb from a tree.
- Tree problems and their treatment.
- Compartmentalisation, and its effect on the spread of disease in trees.
- Preparing a detailed maintenance program for a garden.
- Seed selection, storage, preparation and spreading (sowing).
- Preparation, planting and establishment of a lawn.
- Establishing turf on a steep slope.
- Turf maintenance techniques.
- Analysis of nursery production systems.
- Preparing a flow chart for the production of a particular plant, from propagation to marketing.
- Preparing a maintenance program for green life in a garden centre.
- Preparing guidelines for the disposal of surplus or below standard stock in a nursery.
- Write an advertisement for a nursery or garden maintenance business.
- Basic management procedures for a single person nursery or garden maintenance business.
- Basic communication skills.
- Health and safety requirements for a nursery or garden maintenance workplace.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I Get a Gardening Business Started?
A garden maintenance business provides services that help to maintain the general health or condition, and the presentation of a garden. These services might include such things as lawn mowing, lawn repair and renovation, pruning, spraying pesticides, fertilising or soil care, replacing old or sick plants, maintaining indoor plants, tree lopping or tree surgery.
There was a time when anyone could start this type of business and as long as they were prepared to do physical work, and sweat a little, they would have a reasonable chance of success. Garden maintenance today is however increasingly sophisticated, and increasingly mechanised. If you are to do jobs as well as your competition, you must have some basic knowledge. Very often you also need the right machinery or you will simply take longer to do a job, and sooner or later the clients will discover that they can get more for their money by employing a better equipped gardener.
Many home and business owners will contact their local nursery to obtain gardening services, or pay extra to have plants installed rather than digging and planting themselves. Contracting your services through a nursery is a good starting point for a new garden maintenance business, or can be an opportunity for an existing business.
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.
What do the courses look like?
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 emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
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.”
