Course CodeVHT002Fee CodeCTDuration (approx)700 hoursQualificationCertificate Work in Amenity Horticulture The objective of the course is to: Develop general and broad based skills in horticultural practices and plant identification. Provide more specific knowledge in areas of ornamental horticulture including garden maintenance, turf care, arboriculture, landscaping and nursery work. This 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. Note: Course fee does not include exam fees (x 4). Lesson Structure There are 29 lessons in this course: 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 Introduction to Landscaping Pre Planning Information Keep the Garden to Scale Importance of Space Garden Features for Small Gardens Framing the View Selecting the right plants Economics of Planting Ongoing Costs Longevity Hardiness Aesthetics How to Treat the Ground Living Plant Colour Mulches Growing in Containers Choosing Containers Materials Using Pots Terminology Landscape Design Procedure Site Analysis Deciding What You Want Creating a Concept Plan (Macro Design) What's Your Style? How to Design a Garden Room Garden Room Components Garden Effects Bringing the Outside in How to Extend your Garden Learning from Observation Formal, Informal & Natural Gardens Home Gardens Parks Landscape Plans Landscape Symbols Ways to Draw Plants Step by Step Landscape Principles Unity Balance Proportion Harmony Contrast Rhythm Design Elements -Line, Form, Mass, Space, Texture, Colour, Tone Japanese Garden Styles Hill and Pond Garden Dry Landscape Tea Garden Stroll Garden Courtyard Garden Rocks and other Features Mexican Style Gardens Landscape Construction A Drainage and Erosion Gradients Walling Rock Walls Types of Walls Retaining Walls What to Build Walls from - Brick, Timber, Concrete, Stone How to Build a Brick Wall Timber Retaining Walls Dry Stone Walls Rockeries Steps - riser, tread, construction Healthy Gardens Improving Garden Health - Earthworms, Compost, Attracting Birds, Garden Hygiene, choose Safe Plants Specifications and Contracts Landscape Construction B Surfacing Gradients Gravel Soft Ground Surfaces Grass/Lawn Paving Where to Pave and How Much Imaginative Designs Bringing New Life to Old Paving Paving Maintenance - slipperiness, Cleaning Edging and Borders Fencing Hedges Playgrounds Furnishings and Features Pergolas Tables and Chairs Poolside Furniture Plants for Problem Areas Weeds in One Place, Ornamentals Elsewhere Fast in one Place, Slow Growing Elsewhere Uses for Plants Problems to Watch for Fast Growing Plants that Die Young Flowers, Indoor and Tropical Plants Introduction and Overwatering Tropical Plants Growing Tropicals Elsewhere Flowers Perennials Herbaceous Perennials Using Perennials Bulbs Popular Bulbs - Amaryllis, Gladioli, Narcissus, Dahlia, Hyacinth, Iris Annuals Reasons to Use Annuals Scented Annuals Herbs What is a herb Botanical features, growing conditions and Uses for five Herb Genera Different Growing Techniques Containers Comparing materials -terracotta, plastic, fibreglass, etc Aesthetics Care when on Holiday Preventing Moss and Algae Growth Potting Hydroponics - Drip, Ebb and Flow, Wick, Water Culture Systems Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroponics Two Simple Systems to Make Bonsai Epiphytic Growing Terrariums Watergardens Types of Protective Structures Greenhouses -types, framing materials, covering materials Deciding on Needs Heaters Cold frames Shade houses Arboriculture Tree Issues How to Keep Trees Healthy Compartmentalisation - How Trees Rot Tree Surgery Cavity Treatments Bracing and Cabling Bolting Tree Wound Treatments How Trees Grow Plant Sculpting - Topiary, Hedging, Pleaching Tools and Terminology Planning Garden Maintenance Scheduling Work Analysis of Parks Maintenance Departmental Organisation and Staffing in Parks Tools Machinery Mowers and Mowing Other Maintenance Tools Mulchers Tractors Weed Control Mulching Turf Care Lawns can Benefit the Environment Lawn Shape and Design Selecting Turf Varieties Overview of Varieties Lawn Mixes What to Grow Where Turf Establishment Soil Preparation Seeding Sodding Stolonisation Sprigging Plugging Mowing Turf Mowing Guidelines and Heights Fertilising Turf Aeration & Scarification Topdressing Repairing Turf Turf Varieties in Parks Feature Lawns Picnic Areas Sports Grounds Introduction to Nursery Management A Growing Industry Industry Organisations Nursery Accreditations Organic Certification Types of Nurseries Organic Certifications Production Nurseries Growing On Nurseries Retail Nurseries What to Grow How to Grow Starting as a Nursery Producer Revamping an Existing Nursery Organisation is Key Time Management Managing Facilities, Equipment, Materials Managing Labour Assessing Opportunities Market Research Nursery Site factors Nursery Design Sheds and Workrooms Effective Environmental Management Selecting and Managing Nursery Stock Garden Centres Wholesale Nurseries Specialist Nurseries Plant Selection for Nursery Stock Nursery Stocklist Development Operational Flow Charts Nursery Stock Production and Quality Control Nursery Standards Cost Efficiencies Quality Standards Size Standards Propagation Efficiency Disinfectants Potting and Transplanting Removing Plants from Containers for Potting Transplanting Seedlings Transplanting Cuttings Potting other Types of Plants Potting Machines Potting from a Smaller to Larger Pot Growing On Pruning and Training Nursery Stock Growing Areas and Spacing Plants In Ground Productions Soils and Nutrition Management in Nurseries Nursery Pest and Disease Management Identifying Problems Resistant Plants Reducing Pest and Disease Transmission Cultural Controls Physical Controls Biological Controls Chemical Controls Nursery Weed Control Using Chemicals Plant Growth Modification Getting Plants to Flower Out of Season Holding Nursery Stock Clearing Surplus Stock Conducting a Nursery Inspection Operating a Garden Centre Parts of a Garden Centre Fixtures and Fittings Layout and Signage Design of Component Facilities in a Nursery/ Garden Centre Garden Centre Layout Merchandising Selling Stock Control Marketing and Management in Ornamental Horticulture Management Work Scheduling Safety and Illness at Work Managing Facilities Productivity Managing Money Calculating Costs Practical Exercise to determine Plant Sale Price Marketing The Marketing Mix Successful Promotions Merchandising Suggestions Making Promotions Cost Effective Promotion Messaging Marketing Legalities Contract Law Consumer Law Guarantees Liability What You Will Do The following is just an incomplete list of things covered in this course: 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), including 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. WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE? THOSE WHO WORK OR WOULD LIKE TO START OFF THEIR CAREER IN ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE: Gardeners Parks and garden maintenance Arboriculturists Landscapers Nursery workers