Course CodeVHT002Fee CodeCTDuration (approx)700 hoursQualificationCertificate Combine General Horticulture with Grounds Management This Certificate in Horticulture involves the areas of work: CORE STUDIES: This involves around 350 hours, divided into 15 lessons, approx. half of the course. STREAM STUDIES: This involves a further 350 hours of study specific to irrigation, soils, plant care, pest, disease and weed control and turf care Grounds management involves maintaining landscapes, gardens, or sports venues, either for appearance or for the functionality of the area. In some schools and institutions, they are referred to as 'horticulturists'. This immersive course provides initial training for gardeners, groundsmen and others involved in the care and maintenance of parks, gardens and turf facilities. You'll learn about fundamental horticulture principles and practices before studying more specialised areas like tree care, turf care and irrigation systems. A groundskeeper will be required to carry out certain types of responsibilities to improve appearance and maximise the utility of the area. These tasks may include: Planting and/or watering trees and shrubs Cutting away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs (pruning/trimming) Mowing and cutting lawns Being responsible for the cleanliness and maintenance of pathways, driveways, car parks, areas around buildings, and other public areas Installation of water and/or garden lighting systems Construction and maintenance of fences, terraces, pools, fountains, planters, burial sites, and other grounds features Applying pesticides, fungicides, weed killers, fertilisers, or other chemicals to the soil, weeds, plants, trees, shrubs, or any other surface that requires it Planting seeds, bulbs, grass, foliage, flowers, and other plants for the beautification of the gardens and landscape facilities The maintenance of plants and turf through applying mulch, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, fertilising, or pruning. Groundskeepers may undertake small construction jobs by following a site plan created by a landscape architect, or they may create their own design and present it as an alternative option if they have the skills to do so. They offer service solutions to small to large sized companies to ensure that their grounds are maintained to the highest standards. Lesson Structure There are 30 lessons in this course: Plant Identification Introduction Botanical/Horticultural Nomenclature The Binomial (Taxonomic) System Botanical Classification Plant Families and Species Hybrids, Varieties, Cultivars Plant Family Names Pronunciation of Plant Names Significant Genera and Families they belong to Meanings and origins of Plant Names Pressing Plants (to create a herbaria collection for reference) Introduction to Amenity Plants Flowering Plants Lower Plants – Conifers, Ferns Rhododendrons and Azaleas Roses Bulbs Practical – Plant Review Worksheets Parts of the Plant Plant Identification Skills How to increase your Plant I.D. Skills Terminology Lead Types Structure and Arrangement of Leaves and Leaflets Common Leaf Shapes Flower Structure Parts of a Flower The Inflorescence Types of Flowers – bisexual, unisexual, monoecious, dioeceous How a Seed Forms Plant Structure Stems and Stem Modifications Leaves and Leaf Modifications Roots and Root Function Root Modifications Morphological Changes as a Plant Matures Cell Structure and Histology Cell Components Plant Cell Types Plant Tissue Comparisons Photosynthesis Factors Affecting Photosynthesis Respiration Rate of Respiration Transpiration Environmental Factors Affecting Transpiration and Water Uptake The Nitrogen Cycle Terminology Plant Culture – Planting Planting Environmental Influences on Plants Potting Up Plants Potting Shrubs and Trees Introduction to Gardening Basics Terminology Common Mistakes when Planting Plant Selection Criteria Economics of Planting Ongoing Costs Longevity General Hardiness Aesthetic Criteria Basic Planting Procedure Fertiliser Staking Bare Rooted Plants Timing of Planting Considerations, Variety, Time, Locality, Mulching Laying a New Lawn – Soil Prep, Levels, Sowing, Raking in, Watering Turf Grass Varieties – Couch, Fescue, Rye, Bent, Kentucky Blue Plant Culture – Pruning Fruit or Vegetative Buds Reasons for Pruning Removing Dead or Diseased Wood Controlling Growth Type Controlling Shape and Size Rejuvenation Basic Pruning Rules Home Orchard Pruning Fruit Tree Pruning Styles Before Pruning Considerations while Pruning Pruning Terminology Plant Culture – Irrigation and Machinery Water and Irrigation Infiltration and Drainage Types of Irrigation Flood Irrigation Sprinkler Irrigation Trickle Irrigation Power Tools Types of Power Tools Power Tool Maintenance Oil Buying Power Tools Chainsaws – Use, Starting, Chain Sharpening Mowers – types. Guidelines for use, Care Brush Cutters/ Strimmers Mulchers Rotary Hoes Hedge Trimmers Irrigation Objectives and Feasibility Understanding Soil, Water and Plants Gravitational, Capillary and Hygroscopic Water Measuring Water Available to Plants Calculations – Field Capacity, Wilting Point Available Moisture Range Root Depths for Different Plants Estimating Plant Water Requirement When to Irrigate Symptoms of Water Deficiency and Excess Types of Sprinkler Systems and Sprinkler Heads Design and Operation of Irrigation Systems Cyclic Watering Pulse Watering Irrigation Scheduling Selecting Surface Irrigation Methods Soils and Media Potting Mixes Factors Affecting Fertiliser Application Soils Sampling Soils Soil Composition Colloids and Peds Soil Texture and Structure Soil Chemical Properties Improving Soils – texture, structure, fertility Soil Terminology Soils ad Nutrition Introduction Nutrient Elements Macronutrients Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Calcium Sulphur Micronutrients Soil pH and Nutrient Availability Soil Ameliorants Total Salts Salinity Sources of Salt Control Methods for Salinity Soil Sodicity Water, Air and Nutrients Soil Temperature Key to Diagnosis of Nutritional Problems Fertilisers Composting Compost Ingredients Propagation – Seed and Cuttings Introduction Seed Propagation Hygiene How to Sow Seeds in Containers Seed Germination Seed Sources Seed Storage Factors Affecting Seed Storage Germinating Difficult Seeds Seed Dormancy Treatments to Break Dormancy Cutting Propagation Cutting Types – Softwood, Hardwood, Semi Hardwood, Herbaceous, Stem, Tip, Heal. Leaf, etc Factors affecting Rooting of Cuttings Plant Breeding Hybrid Seed Production Maintaining Genetic Identity in Seed Hand Pollination Propagation – Other Techniques Division Aseptic Micro Propagation Grafting Budding Layering Tip Layering Mound Layering Simple Layering Compound Layering Aerial Layering Natural Layering – Suckers, Runners, Offsets, Crowns Propagation with Specialised Stems and Roots – Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, Rhizomes, Pseudobulbs Propagating Bulbs – Bulblets on Scales, Stem Cuttings, Bulbils, Basal Cutting etc Identification and Use of Plants – Landscape Application Plants in the Landscape Choosing Plants – criteria Inspecting Plants Pre Purchase Trees for Landscaping Factors for Tree Selection Potential Tree Problems Choosing Shrubs for Different Purposes Groundcovers Building Plant Knowledge of Many Tree and Shrub Genera Trees for Different Conditions Planting Techniques Soil Restrictions on Planting Identification and Use of Plants-Problem Situations Establishing Trees Tree Size & Age at Planting Root Containment at Planting - Container Type, Bare Rooted or Balled What to look for when Buying a Tree Plant Protection at Planting – Staking, Frost Protection, Sun Protection, Cages Controlling Birds Props Cabling & Bolting Quick Reference Plant Directory Container Growing Outside Street Tree Reporting Identification and Use of Plants – Indoor Introduction to Indoor Plants Why Indoor Plants Die Potting Mixes Drainage holes in Pots How to Pot a small Plant to a Larger Pot Potting up Hanging Baskets Plantscaping with Ferns Fern Families and Genera Pests Chemical Pest Control Law Chemical Labelling Non Chemical Pest Control Care when Using Chemicals Entomology & Insect Control Methods Types of Insect Poisons – contact, intermediate, stomach, translocated or not Integrated Pest Management Insecticide Use with IPM Preventative Actions in the Garden Understanding Pesticides – Reading the Label Toxicity, Activity Spectrum, LD50. Persistence, Volatility, etc. Chemical Types -Inorganic, Biological, Organophosphates, Organochlorines, Carbamates, etc. Review of Specific Chemical Products Diatomaceous earth, Soaps Fungicides Ways of Applying Chemicals – Spraying, Dusting, Granules, Irrigation injection Safety Procedures when Using Agricultural Chemicals Differentiation of Pests, Diseases and Viruses Review of most Common Pests Diseases Fungicides Plant Pathology Identifying a Problem – Parasitic, Non Parasitic Treating a Problem Diagnosis of Plant Disorders – Visual Appearance, Possible Cause, Appropriate Treatment Common Diseases Anthracnose Blight Canker Damping Off Galls Leaf Spot Mildew Rots Rust Smut Mould Wilt Other Common Diseases Turf Fungal Diseases Plant Virus Detection and Diagnosis Arboriculture and Tree Health Weeds What is a Weed Steps to Controlling Weeds Weed Control with Suffocation Weed Control with Burning Cultivation to Control Weeds Other Non Chemical Weed Control Methods – Grazing, Mowing, Flooding, pH change, Biological Controls Weed Control with Herbicides Modes of Action Regulations and Laws - Restricted Use & Supply Avoiding Spray Drift Types of Herbicide Chemicals – Aliphatics, Amides, Ureas, Carbamates etc. Herbicide Resistance and Tolerance Safe Use of Weed killers Safety Guidelines and First Aid in relation to Chemical Use Cleaning Up a Chemical Spill Identifying Weeds Controlling Weeds in Different Places – fence lines, base of trees, garden Beds, Hard Surfaces Types of Weeds Noxious Weeds Environmental Weeds Common Weeds Terminology THIS CONCLUDES THE CORE STUDIES AFTER WHICH YOU CHOOSE A STREAM FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS COURSE. Pest and Disease Management Weed Management Managing Plant Cultural Problems Turf Grasses Turf Culture Cultural Management Arboriculture Tree Physiology Tree Plant Maintenance Soil Degradation Soil Characteristics Soil Management Irrigation Equipment Understanding Water Irrigation Design and Operation Aims Provide a sound broad based introduction to horticulture. Introduce to all of the major disciplines of horticulture. Provide a base for more specialised study in areas of horticulture. Design a plant assessment sheet to be used in the field to record information about plant health problems. Diagnose nutrient, pest, disease and environmental problems of plants. Dissect, draw and label a range of pest/disease problems. Explain ten alternative weed control methods including chemical and non chemical treatments. Collect, press, label and mount a weed collection and a pest/disease collection. Explain aeration, spiking, coring, dethatching and topdressing. Describe selective weed control in turf. Select turf species suitable for a range of different situations (eg: for shade, wet and windy sites). Describe the steps in preparing an area for turf. Demonstrate the ability to prepare for, and sow a new lawn. Explain how to establish turf on a steep slope. Prepare labelled sketches of three gardens created using different growing methods. Review and select plants suitable for use in each situation. Describe the importance of trees to humans. Describe the correct procedures for the proper and safe removal of a limb from a tree. Describe simply the processes of photosynthesis, respiration & transpiration. List the environmental factors which affect photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration. Explain compartmentalisation, and it's effect on the spread of diseases in trees. Develop contact with local people involved in garden maintenance. Describe maintenance procedures for a variety of different ornamental garden situations. Explain soil (seedbed) preparation treatments for a range of soil types. Explain soil degradation problems in terms of soil chemistry and structure, and how to deal with them. Explain different ways of preparing virgin or farmland soil for treeplanting. Explain different ways of treating a soil using soil ameliorants. Collect samples of or literature describing products which can be used to assist with the improvement of soils. Explain situations where cultivation can be used to improve a soil. Explain a situation where cultivation can be detrimental to a soil. Classify different soils using simple hand feel tests. Explain pH and conductivity (EC) and their affect on plant growth. List the comparative advantages and disadvantages of different types of irrigation systems. Explain the operation of different sprinkler heads, different microjets and different drippers. Explain the way water moves through soil and the mechanisms which affect the soils water holding capacity. Select an appropriate irrigation system for a selected garden, and explain the reasons why it is preferred. Explain the operation of a timer used in irrigation systems. Design a micro irrigation system. AFTER YOU FINISH THIS COURSE Your awareness and understanding of horticulture will be broader and deeper than it was before. You will be able to identify more plants than you could before. You will be able to better manage gardens, sports grounds, commercial landscapes and a whole lot more. You have possibilities that you had previously not seen, to move your knowledge and career forward WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE? People with knowledge of grounds maintenance are sought after for employment in different kinds of settings such as public gardens, parks, private estates, business grounds, and green spaces in urban or rural areas. Gardeners Groundskeepers and others involved in the care and maintenance of parks, gardens and turf facilities.