CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (LANDSCAPING & GARDEN DESIGN) VHT002

If your interest is in all areas of landscaping: design, contracting and construction; this course is for you.

A 6-700 hour course designed to train landscape contractors and/or designers. This course develops skills in general horticulture, plant identification and use, designing, costing and constructing gardens. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to landscaping.

OUR MOST POPULAR COURSE FOR ANYONE JUST STARTING OUT IN HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPING

Meet one of the Graduates:

Jamie Speeding studied and completed this certificate in the mid 1990's. While studying he formed his own business, Greenhort Design. Soon after Jamie became a member of The Australian Institute Of Horticulture (AIH) and was elected inaugural Chair of the Gold Coast branch, a position he held for three consecutive terms. His dedication to the industry saw him appointed on various industry advisory committees, form strong ties between the local nursery industry and help initiate the move to establish a botanic garden on the Gold Coast. He has also been a lecturer, magazine journalist and spent several years hosting a radio show on the local ABC.
Today he is fully occupied with commercial Landscape design. "For the past 18 months I have been mainly designing/drafting ACAD residential development landscape plans and childcare centers nationwide for Council submission. I now employ several full-time drafters and designers as the demand for our services has increased ten-fold."

Jamie believes that a lot of his success in the horticulture industry can be attributed to ACS Principal John Mason and past tutor Paul Plant who both encouraged and supported his career.

COURSE CONTENT

This certificate entails the following:

• Core studies - half of the course, covering all areas of horticulture; involving approximately 350hrs over 15 lessons.
• Elective studies - half of the course focused on landscaping; involving stream studies specific to landscaping.

Core units

1. Introduction to Plants - Nomenclature and taxonomy, the plant kingdom, genus, species, hybrids.

2. Parts of the Plant - How plants grow, plant structure, parts of the flower and leaf, modification of stems and roots.

3. Plant Culture - Planting. How to plant and protect newly planted specimens, terms like: annuals, biennials, perennials, deciduous, evergreen and herbaceous plants.

4. Plant Culture - Pruning, the purpose of pruning, rules for pruning, how to prune.

5. Plant Culture - Irrigation and Machinery. Different irrigation systems, components of an irrigation system, designing an irrigation system, maintenance in the garden and for tools.

6. Soils & Media - Soil classifications, testing soil, potting mixes, the U.C. System, ingredients of potting mixes.

7. Soils & Nutrition. Fertilizers - Deficiencies and toxicities, N:P:K ratios, salting, fertilizer programming, compost.

8. Propagation - Seeds & Cuttings - How to propagate plants with the two easiest techniques, propagating mixes, cold frame construction, after care for young plants.

9. Propagation - Other Techniques - Other methods to increase plant numbers - budding, grafting, layering, division and tissue culture.

10. Identification and Use of Plants - How are plants used in the landscape, how to choose and purchase plants, selecting plants suitable for the climate and site.

11. Identification and Use of Plants - Problems with plants and choosing plants for problem sites.

12. Identification and Use of Plants - Indoor and Tropical Plants, flowers, herbs, bulbs, ferns.

13. Pests - Identifying and controlling pests, chemical and natural methods for control, chemical safety precautions.

14. Diseases - Identifying and controlling diseases, plant pathology, fungi, viruses, non pathogenic problems, interactions with the host and the environment.

15. Weeds - Identifying and controlling weeds, chemical terminology.

Stream Studies:
The aim of the stream studies is to develop skills and knowledge in landscape design, construction, features and landscape business management.
You will engage in the following activities as part of the stream studies:

• Review the historical evolution of gardens.
• Obtain pre-planning information and use of that information to draw plans.
• Identify different principles and styles of landscape designs.
• Analyze garden designs.
• Develop graphic skills, and a knowledge of drawing materials and techniques.
• Prepare cost estimates for a landscape job.
• Describe surfacing materials and their effects.
• Explain the quality and cost of different landscape materials.
• Develop a knowledge of plants, both native and exotic, suitable for local conditions.
• Select plants for difficult sites and conditions.
• Describe advantages and disadvantages of various pipes, sprinklers and pumping equipment.
• Recommend irrigation systems for different landscape situations.
• Design a simple irrigation system.
• Design a bush garden and the value and relevance of using native plants.
• Analyze and report on a cottage garden design.
• Analyze and report on a playground design.
• Prepare a playground design for a school or public park.
• Draw layout plans for a range of gardens.
• Conduct a detailed survey of a site, prepare a detailed plan based on that survey, estimate costs and develop contract documentation for that project.
• Explain earthworks and soil preparation techniques used in landscaping.
• Describe alternative techniques for establishing and growing plants.
• Explain a range of landscape construction techniques including building fences, walls, rockeries, paths, water gardens, paving and drainage.
• Compare different landscape materials with respect to their quality, cost, availability and application in garden construction.
• Describe the correct procedures for the proper and safe removal of a limb from a tree, and for the felling of trees.
• Develop a detailed maintenance program for a garden.
• Demonstrate the ability to prepare for, and plant a new lawn.
• Explain how to establish turf on a steep slope.
• Write and advertisement for a landscaping business.
• Explain basic management procedures.
• Show a reasonable level of communication skill.
• Explain health and safety requirements on a landscape site.

WHAT SETS ACS APART?

Service – We put the student first.  Tutors and administration can be contacted 5 days a week, 50 weeks of the year, by phone or email.

We provide Better Learning – We’ve been delivering distance education for over 3 decades, and we understand how people learn by home study.

Our methods are unique, developed through experience with a focus squarely on helping you learn.

Up to Date – We are continually revising and updating courses. We listen to our students feed-back and we always improve the course if a change is identified that will help significantly improve your learning.

More Choice – Graduates need a set of skills that will set them apart and give them an advantage over competition in the world after study. We have a wide variety of study choices, and give you lots of options to choose different paths throughout a course. Doing this has meant our graduates very successful.

No Short Cuts –You can’t take short cuts in learning, and that is why our courses are often longer than you will find elsewhere. You could choose to study a short course, quickly sit an exam (while the information is fresh) and pass, but if you want to really understand something and retain it, that takes time.

More than just Learning Facts – We understand that success in the workplace or business requires you to not only learn things, but also build networks, understand the commercial world, be able to solve problems, communicate with people, and have an attitude that will function in your chosen industry.

WHY CHOOSE US?

• Reputation: well-known and respected in horticulture.
• Industry focus: courses designed to suit industry needs and expectations.
• Different focus: develop problem solving skills that make you stand out from others.
• Hands-on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills.
• Lots of help: dedicated and knowledgeable tutors (faculty of internationally renowned horticulturists).
• Efficient: prompt responses to your questions.
• A long track record: established in 1979 with a solid history.
• Up to date: courses under constant review.
• Resources:  huge wealth of constantly developing intellectual property.
• Value: courses compare very favourably on a cost per study hour basis.
• Student amenities: online student room, bookshop, ebooks, acs garden online resources.