RHS Level 3 Certificate - Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting (VHT042)
This theory based course builds on the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance. Together these two courses provide a solid foundation for building a career or business in landscaping, garden design or maintenance. Students who complete both courses will have a leading edge over competitors through superior knowledge and understanding.
The course teaches all you need to know from surveying sites and recording site information to earthworks, planning and design. Feel competent in advising your clients and impress them with drawings and your knowledge of design concepts.
What the Course Covers
There are 15 lessons in this course:
- History of Garden Design and Styles
- Site Appraisals, Basic Surveying Techniques and Client Briefs
- Principles and Elements of Garden Design and the Influence of Site Characteristics
- Hard Landscaping Features and their Contribution to Garden Design and Function
- The Function of Drainage Systems in the Garden
- Soft Landscaping Features and their Contribution to Garden Design and Function
- Turf and its Contribution to Garden Design and Function
- Setting out a Site to Scale Plans and Drawings
- Earthworks, Soil Storage and Drainage Systems
- Landscape Construction Procedures and Materials
- Constructing Rock Gardens and Water Features
- Amenity Bedding Schemes
- Specialist Garden Areas and Urban Garden Options
- Specialist Pruning Techniques
- Adapting Gardens for Water Sustainability
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 150 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site are relevant supplementary reading for this course.
- Garden Design I
- Garden Design II
- Gardening in the Shade
- Water Gardening
- Perennial Plants
- Growing and Knowing Annuals
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification in the field of human behaviour, will impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
This course builds on the RHS level 2 certificates as a natural next step. It adds to the knowledge and skills of professional horticulturists and provides greater insight into principles and practices of horticulture.
If you like a stern challenge or want to enhance your gardening and horticulture then look no further.