Learn about the Equipment, Materials and Techniques used to Maintain Gardens
Horticulture is a broad industry with jobs available in different sectors from hard landscaping to design, and restoration to maintenance. Many people have some idea about gardening - whether because they are self-taught or it has been passed down to them, but unless you really study it you can quite easily end up relying on 'old wive's tales' and a hotchpotch of information.
This course irons out the facts about general horticulture principles. In studying it you will start off on the right foot. You'll learn how to be competent in understanding plant nutrition and fertilisation, methods of weed, pest & disease control, and recognising plant watering needs. All the fundamentals of garden maintenance are also described like pruning, use of different types of tools & equipment, and how to look after turf grasses.
- Set up a garden maintenance business
- Gain work within a garden maintenance business
- Have all the skills and knowledge to do the above
What this Course Covers
Ten Lessons
- Introduction to Planning and Managing a Garden
- Garden Furnishings and Machinery
- Feeding Plants
- Weed Control
- Weedicides
- Natural Pest Control
- Chemical Pest Control
- Turf Management
- Irrigation
- Maintenance of Plants
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 100 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 may be relevant supplementary reading for this course:
- Getting Work in Horticulture
- Starting a Garden or Landscape Business
- Plant Pests & Diseases
- Weeds
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 with vegetable growing, will impress others, 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 is geared towards people working in the horticulture industry, in parks or public and private gardens, or who are planning on doing so. This course will also help with running or improving an existing garden maintenance business.
Study this course by itself or along with other horticulture subjects to enhance your understanding of the industry and expand your skills.