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IRRIGATION - GARDENS BHT210

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment

DISTANCE EDUCATION - GARDEN IRRIGATION COURSE

SAVE TIME and MONEY by GETTING IT RIGHT FIRST TIME

Correct watering is an essential part of garden maintenance, particular for large established gardens.  Student gain valuable skills and knowledge in all areas of irrigation management for gardens. Learn to:

  • Correctly estimate irrigation requirements
  • Schedule irrigation
  • Correct drainage
  • Select the best irrigation system
  • Design the right system
  • Understand pumps and filters

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IRRIGATION GARDENS COURSE - DISTANCE LEARNING

SAVE TIME and MONEY by GETTING IT RIGHT 1st TIME
 
Water is essential to healthy plant growth. It is often the major limitation to a plant's productivity. Irrigation may enable plants or turf to be grown in a dry climate where it would not otherwise be possible. It may also supplement the existing rainfall and improve growth rates by extending the growth period of the plant. It may ensure that there is adequate moisture during critical periods when a plant is growing most rapidly. Irrigation at appropriate times may also improve the quality of turf or the general health of garden plants. The value of irrigation can vary greatly from year to year depending on the distribution of rainfall during the growth season.

Correct watering is an essential part of garden maintanance, particular for large established gardens.  Student gain valuable skills and knowledge in all areas of irrigation management for gardens. Learn to:
  • Correctly estimate irrigation requirements
  • Schedule irrigation
  • Correct drainage
  • Select the best irrigation system
  • Design the right system
  • Understand pumps and filters

Water is essential to healthy plant growth. It is often the major limitation to a plant's productivity. Irrigation may enable plants or turf to be grown in a dry climate where it would not otherwise be possible. It may also supplement the existing rainfall and improve growth rates by extending the growth period of the plant. It may ensure that there is adequate moisture during critical periods when a plant is growing most rapidly. Irrigation at appropriate times may also improve the quality of turf or the general health of garden plants. The value of irrigation can vary greatly from year to year depending on the distribution of rainfall during the growth season.

Duration:  100 hours

CONTENT

There are 10 lessons as follows:

  1. Introduction to Irrigation
  2. Soil Characteristics and Problems
  3. Estimating Plant Needs and Irrigation Scheduling
  4. Drainage
  5. Types of Irrigation Systems
  6. Trickle Systems
  7. Design Specifications
  8. Pumps and Filters
  9. Selecting the Right System for a Plant
  10. Design and Operation of Systems.

SUMMARY OF COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED:

  • Explain the significance of soil in irrigation.
  • Explain how to determine when to irrigate in a small scale situation.
  • Manage irrigation in a given situation.
  • Explain the significance of different aspects of moving water including: drainage, pumps, filters,  storage and recirculation.
  • Select an appropriate irrigation system for a given situation.
  • Explain the principles of design for a simple irrigation system.
  • Design a simple irrigation system.
  • Oversee the installation of an irrigation system.
Why Irrigate?

The main objective of irrigation schemes or systems is to produce a particular desired pattern of plant growth. Maximum vegetative growth does not necessarily correspond to maximum yield of the part of the plant desired e.g. fruit, nuts, or roots. In addition, achieving maximum yield may require inefficient use of available resources, whether it is land, water, equipment, or labour. 'Optimum yield' is usually the desired objective. This has been defined as the yield at which the benefit/cost ratio is at maximum, although even this may be hard to achieve if any of the resources required for the irrigation system e.g. land, water, or equipment is limited. Therefore, it is important to clearly define the purpose or desired outcome of an irrigation system

 

IRRIGATION: THE WIDER VIEW

Irrigation can be used to produce outcomes in terms of crop production. Irrigation schemes may also have other outcomes. Large-scale schemes may have an impact on human settlement patterns, causing local migrations of labour to or from irrigated areas with subsequent changes in the availability and cost of housing and services. Land prices may also be severely affected as land use patterns change. Impoundment of rivers and streams into dams and lakes can result in major environmental changes (such as changes to river characteristics and to flora and fauna populations) in areas both adjacent and far removed from those features. Small scale, even down to individual garden size systems, can still cause far-reaching changes. For example, the base flow component (year-round flow) of many urban streams derives almost entirely from home irrigation of gardens. If this was to stop these streams would cease flowing for much of the year. In addition, much of the excess water from irrigation systems that flow to streams, rivers and lakes is high in chemicals leached out of gardens or other crop areas. These chemicals, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous from fertilisers and pesticides, can cause major changes in vegetation and animal populations in and adjacent to water bodies.

Benefits of Studying This Course
This course is the perfect course to take for those seeking to develop an understanding of irrigation with a view to installing or maintaining irrigation systems. It guides you through different types of irrigation system and different components of irrigation systems, as well as the relative advantages of each. Learn how to assess a plant's water requirements and adjust irrigation accordingly. This course will appeal to people looking to work in, or broaden their knowledge in, the following areas:

  • Irrigation
  • Garden Maintenance
  • Landscaping
  • Nurseries
  • Garden Centres
  • Parks & Gardens
  • Botanical Gardens

 

 

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Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Yvonne Sharpe (Horticulturist)Started gardening in 1966, studied a series of horticulture qualifications throughout the 1980's and 90's, culminating in an RHS Master of Horticulture. Between 89 and 1994, she worked teaching in horticultural therapy. Founded the West Herts Garden Association in 1990 and exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show in 1991. In 1994, Yvonne joined the staff at Oaklands College, and between 1996 and 2000 was coordinator for all Amenity Horticulture courses at that college. Since leaving Oakland she has been active as a horticultural consultant, retail garden centre proprietor and sessional lecturer (across many colleges in southern England). In 2000, she also completed a Diploma in Management.


Check out our eBooks

Garden Design Part 1The Garden Design ebook part 1 is an essential handbook for students and landscape professionals. A foundation guide to garden design, this book provides stunning full illustrations to demonstrate tips and examples on garden design, functional uses and aesthetics. Some topics that are covered in this ebook include 1/ Introduction to Garden Design, 2/ Appropriateness of garden design, 3/ Creating an impact, 4/ Designing to a budget, 5/ Choosing plants, 6/ Using the garden, 7/ Where the garden meets the house, 8/ Making the winter garden more comfortable, 9/ Gardens for children, 10/The secure home and garden, 11/ Lighting a garden, 12/ Dealing with shade, 13/ Garden Art, 14/ Pots and planters, 15/ Colour in the garden, 16/ Applications for colour and 17/ Garden furniture.
Getting Work in HorticultureExplore what it is like to work in horticulture; how diverse this industry is, how to get a start, and how to build a sustainable, long term and diverse career that keeps your options broad, so you can move from sector to sector as demand and fashion changes across your working life.
Plant Pests & DiseasesAre you one of those people that kill every plant you touch? Perhaps it's not you. Perhaps it's a pest or disease. A little bit of reading might just turn your garden into an oasis. Learn how to identify pests and diseases and bring the spring back into your plant...visit the bookshop to find out more...
What to Plant WhereA great guide for choosing the right plant for a particular position in the garden. Thirteen chapters cover: plant selection, establishment, problems, and plants for wet areas. Shade, hedges and screens, dry gardens, coastal areas, small gardens, trees and shrubs, lawns and garden art.