PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Landscaping | Learn online

What is a 'Learning Bundle'?

Our learning bundles are a great way to put together the modules that suit your specific goals and learning needs. It is also more cost effective than studying each module separately.

• If you sit exams you will receive a Statement of Attainment for each module

• If you choose not to sit exams, you will receive a Letter of Completion for each module

When you complete your bundle you can receive a Summary of Studies.

The demand for skilled landscapers and landscape designers is booming right now!

Gain truly solid landscaping skills and knowledge from one of the most respected schools in this field.

Give yourself a truly competitive edge with this unique landscape training. It not only covers all that you need to know about landscaping; it also provides you with essential and extensive training in horticulture fundamentals and workplace practices and requirements.

• Comprehensive, practical and packed with relevant learning to set you up for a life long career in landscaping

• This course is longer, teaches you more, and is more focused on things that are totally relevant to the day to day work of a landscape designer or landscape contractor.

• Students are supported by a team of a dozen highly qualified professional landscapers and horticulturists, with decades of hands on industry experience

• Courses developed by a team led by John Mason, garden designer, author, former landscape magazine editor; fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (UK), fellow Australian Institute of Horticulture and fellow Parks & Leisure Australia.

Modules

Note that each module in the PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Landscaping | Learn online is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

Module 1. Landscaping I

The ten lessons are as follows:

1. Basic Design Procedure A. - collecting pre-planning information, landscape elements, principles, etc.

2. History of Gardening ‑ garden styles and themes, famous designers, garden influences.

3. Drafting & Contracting - drawing techniques, specifications, details.

4. Basic Landscape Construction - timber, steps, retainer walls, pathways, play structures, etc.

5. Surfacing - concrete, asphalt, gravels, mulches, grasses, gradients, etc.

6. Furnishings & Features - chairs, statues, figurines, birdbaths, skateboards, safety, etc.

7. Park Design A - good/bad park design characteristics, recreational landscaping.

8. Home Garden design - good/bad garden design characteristics.

9. Design Procedure B - development of concept plans and detailed planting plans.

10. Park Design B - development of park design, fun & fitness trails.

 

Module 2. Horticulture I

There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:

1. Plant Identification: Naming plants; distinguishing the taxonomic divisions of plants including family, genus, species and variety or hybrid; identifying the different parts of a flower; distinguishing the morphological characteristics of leaves.

2. Planting: Planting methods used for different types of plants including annuals, perennials, evergreen and deciduous plants; influence of environmental factors on planting techniques.

3. Soils: Classifying soils; sampling and testing soils; chemical and physical properties of soils; soil improvement techniques; composting; potting mixes.

4. Nutrition: Major and micro elements necessary for plant growth; nutrient deficiencies and toxicities; fertilisers.

5. Water Management: Irrigation systems - characteristics, advantages and disadvantages; drainage systems; waterwise gardening.

6. Pruning: Pruning techniques; importance of pruning to growth, flowering and fruiting; pruning tools.

7. Weeds: Identifying common weeds; characteristics of weeds; control techniques; herbicides.

8. Pests and Diseases: Identifying common insect and disease problems; control methods; Integrated Pest Management; pesticides; hygiene procedures; chemical safety.

9. Landscaping: Stages of landscaping; design procedures; collating pre-planning information; preparing plans; selecting plants for specified sites.

10. Propagation: Asexual and sexual propagation; taking cuttings; sowing seeds; aftercare of propagated plants.

11. Lawns: Turf grass varieties; laying a new lawn; cultural techniques including watering, fertilizing, topdressing, aerating, pest and disease control.

12. Arboriculture: Tree management techniques including pruning, removal and tree surgery; identifying tree problems.

 

Module 3. Landscaping II

There are twelve lessons in this subject as follows:

1. The Garden Environment

2. Landscape Materials

3. Using Bulbs and Annuals

4. Landscaping with Trees

5. Ground Cover Plants

6. Walls and Fences

7. Paths and Paving

8. Treatment of Slopes and Other Problem Areas

9. Garden Features

10. Designing for Low Maintenance

11. Development of a Landscape Plan

12. Management of Landscape Projects.

 

Module 4. Landscaping III (Landscape Styles)

There are 10 lessons in this module as follows:

1. Creating the Mood
2. Historic Gardens
3. Formal Gardens
4. Oriental Gardens
5. Middle Eastern and Spanish Style
6. Mediterranean Gardens
7. Coastal Gardens
8. Modern Gardens
9. Eclectic Gardens
10. Other Styles

Module 5. Plant Establishment and Selection

There are ten lessons as follows:

1. Introduction
2. Woody plants
3. Windbreaks, hedges and screens
4. Alpine and water plants
5. Annual and herbaceous plants
6. Turf
7. Maintenance
8. Pest and disease control
9. Weed control
10. Risk assessment

Module 6. Landscape Construction

There are ten lessons as follows:

1. Tools and Machinery
2. Landscape Plans and Setting out a Construction Site
3. Drainage in Landscape Construction
4. Earthworks
5. Surfaces, Paths, Paving and Turf
6. Construction of Garden Structures I
7. Construction of Garden Structures II
8. Irrigation Systems
9. Establishing Hedges and Other Plants
10. Workplace Safety and Management of Landscape Construction Work

Module 7. Horticulture II

There are ten lessons in this course plus one Special Assignment (see later for details). The content of each of the ten lessons is outlined below:

1. The Groups of Plants ‑ setting a framework for the whole subject.

To identify plants from a wide range of taxonomic and cultural groups, using a range of different techniques.

2. Use of Plants ‑ plant selection, soils.

3. Australian Native Plants

To determine techniques for the growing of native shrubs and trees, including the selection, culture and use of different species.

4. Exotic Ornamental Plants

To determine techniques for the growing of exotic ornamental shrubs and trees, including the selection, culture and use of different species.

5. Indoor & Tropical Plants

To determine techniques for the growing of indoor plants, including selection, culture and use of different varieties

6. Bedding Plants

To determine techniques for the growing of bedding plants, including selection, culture and use of different varieties.

7. Vegetables

To develop techniques for the growing of edible crop plants, including selection, culture and use of vegetables, fruit, berries and nuts (Part A).

8. Fruits, Nuts & Berries

9. Herbs

10. Alternative Growing Techniques ‑ hydroponics, container growing, terrariums. Determine appropriate applications for a range of alternative growing methods.

 

Module 8. Horticulture & Research I

The course contains seven lessons

1. Determining Research Needs

2. Searching for Information

3. Research Methods

4. Using Statistics

5. Conducting Statistical Research

6. Research Reports

7. Reporting on a Research Project

Module 9. Water Gardening

There are eight lessons as follows:

1. Introduction: Scope & Nature of water features, water quality, plants & animals in water, etc.

2. Construction

3. Equipment: Pumps, Lights, Filters etc.

4. Ponds, watercourses, bog gardens, dams -Design & Aftercare.

5. Spas and Swimming Pools -Design & After care

6. Water Features -Indoor & Outdoor -Fountains, Waterfalls, Fish tanks, ponds etc

7. Water Plants

8. Aquatic Animals

 

Module 10. Playground Design

There are eight lessons in this unit as follows:

1. Overview of Parks & Playgrounds

2. Playground Philosophy

3. Preparing a Concept Plan

4. Materials

5. Park & Playground Structures and Materials

6. Local and Neighbourhood Parks

7. Community Participation In Park Development

8. Special Assignment.

 

Module 11. Planning Layout and Construction of Ornamental Gardens

There are eight lessons in this unit as follows:

1. Overview of Parks & Playgrounds

2. Playground Philosophy

3. Preparing a Concept Plan

4. Materials

5. Park & Playground Structures and Materials

6. Local and Neighbourhood Parks

7. Community Participation In Park Development

8. Special Assignment.

 

Module 12. Cottage Garden Design

There are eight lessons as follows:

1. Introduction To Cottage Gardens

2. History Of Cottage Gardens

3. Design Techniques and Drawing Plans

4. Plants For Cottage Gardens

5. Planting Design In Cottage Gardens

6. Landscape Features and Components

7. Cottage Gardens Today

8. Special Assignment - Design of a Complete Garden.

 

Module 13. Permaculture Systems

The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:

1. Permaculture Principles

2. Natural Systems

3. Zone & Sector Planning

4. Permaculture Techniques

5. Animals in Permaculture

6. Plants in Permaculture

7. Appropriate Technologies

8. Preparing a Permaculture Plan

 

Module 14. Horticultural Management

There are ten lessons in this course as follows:

1. Horticultural Business Structures

2. Management Theories and Procedures

3. Horticulture & The Law

4. Supervision

5. Financial Management

6. Staff Management

7. Improving Plant Varieties

8. Productivity and Risk

9. Managing Physical Resources

10. Developing an Horticultural Business Plan

Module 15. Natural Garden Design

There are 8 lessons in this course as follows:

1. Introduction to Natural Gardens.

2. History of Natural Gardens

3. Developing Concept Plans

4. Plants for Natural Gardens

5. Planting Design in Natural Gardens

6. Natural Garden Features

7. Natural Gardens Today

8. Bringing It All Together.

Module 16. Project Management

There are nine lessons as follows:

1. Introduction
   Understanding what project management is, and what its applications might be.
2. Project Identification
   Identification and defining projects which need management.
3. Project Planning
   Developing a strategy and framework for the plan.
4. Project Implementation
   Managers duties during implementation, developing a Preparation Control Chart,
   Regulating implementation.
5. Project Completion & Evaluation
   Dangers in this stage, Steps in Project completion, Declaring a project sustainable,
   Developing an evaluation method.
6. Technical Project Management Skills
   Preparing a proposal, budget control/management, steps in drawing up a
   post project appraisal.
7. Leadership Skills
   Styles of leadership, leadership principles and methods.
8. Improving Key Personnel Skills
   Listening skills, Negotiation skills, Conflict management.
9. Major Assignment
   Developing full documentation for a project.

Module 17. Restoring Established Ornamental Gardens

There are 8 lessons in this module as follows:

1. Landscape History & Design Styles
2. Surveying the Site
3. Assessment of Plantings and Features
4. Selecting Components for Retention
5. Work Programming and Risk Management
6. Drainage
7. Hard Landscape Feature Restoration
8. Planting Restoration and Maintenance

Module 18. Horticulture & Research II

There are 7 lessons in this module as follows:
1. Identifying research issues and determining research priorities.
2. Acquisition of technical information
3. Specialised research techniques
4. Research planning and designing
5. Statistics
6. Conducting research
7. Writing reports

Module 19. Workshop I

This course uses PBL (problem-based learning) study projects to develop a "real world" relevance in your overall learning experience

There are 3 lessons in this module as follows:

1. Workplace Tools, Equipment and Materials: Identifying and describing the operation of tools and equipment used in the workplace; routine maintenance of tools and equipment; identifying and comparing materials used in the workplace; using different materials to perform workplace tasks.

2. Workplace Skills: Determining key practical skills in the workplace; identifying and comparing commonly-performed workplace tasks; determining acceptable standards for workplace tasks; implementing techniques for improving workplace efficiency.

3. Workplace Safety: Identifying health and safety risks in the workplace; complying with industry OH&S standards; developing safety guidelines for handling dangerous items

Modules 20 and 21.

Two relevant electives from horticulture or another area of study of value to people working in landscaping.

For example  Advanced Permaculture; Irrigation - gardens; Trees for Rehabilitation; Horticultural Marketing; Plant Ecology; Conifers; Roses; Perennials; Australian Natives I; Tropical Plants; Photoshop; Starting a Small Business.

MORE DETAIL ON SELECTED MODULES

Horticulture I

Course Structure

There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:

1. Plant Identification
2. Planting
3. Soils
4. Nutrition
5. Water Management
6. Pruning
7. Weeds
8. Pests and Diseases
9. Landscaping
10. Propagation
11. Lawns
12. Arboriculture

What you will do in this course

• Distinguish between plants in order to identify at least 120 plants on plant review sheets.
• Plant out a container plant following a recommended procedure.
• Sample and carry out simple tests on different soils.
• Identify a range of nutrient problems in plants.
• Identify a range of pest and disease problems in plants.
• Demonstrate the correct procedure for pruning a plant.
• Identify a range of different plants, based on their flower and leaf structures.
• Determine appropriate procedures for planting according to type of plant and site.
• Demonstrate knowledge of how to care for plants in the garden.
• Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate plant selection for a range of different sites.
• Identify a range of plant health problems and describe appropriate chemical and non-chemical control methods to control those problems.
• Identify characteristics of plant growing media necessary for healthy plant growth.
• Explain the importance of organic matter in soil management.
• Describe the principles and techniques of composting.
• Determine nutrient problems and describe chemical and non-methods for overcoming these problems.
• Identify management solutions to a range of plant problems including weeds, pests and diseases.
• Explain the principles of Integrated Pest Management.
• Determine appropriate water management practices applicable to plant growth.
• Describe the characteristics of irrigation and drainage systems.
• Describe the importance of pruning to plant growth, flowering and fruiting.
• Describe safe use of chemicals.
• Develop criteria for selecting suitable plants for a landscape project.
• Prepare concept plans for landscape redevelopment.
• Draw a concept plan for a garden redevelopment.
• Demonstrate the correct procedure for taking cuttings from a range of plants.
• Distinguish between different pre-germination seed requirements and techniques, for different plant species.
• Determine appropriate turf species for different purposes and chosen climatic conditions.
• Explain the composition of lawn seed mixes and fertilizers.
• Observe and report on lawn management techniques.
• Determine solutions to lawn problems.
• Explain the cause and effect of common tree problems.
• Determine appropriate methods for treating tree problems.

Landscape Construction

There are ten lessons as follows:

1. Tools and Machinery
2. Landscape Plans and Setting out a Construction Site
3. Drainage in Landscape Construction
4. Earthworks
5. Surfaces, Paths, Paving and Turf
6. Construction of Garden Structures I
7. Construction of Garden Structures II
8. Irrigation Systems
9. Establishing Hedges and Other Plants
10. Workplace Safety and Management of Landscape Construction Work

What You Will Do In This Course

• Compare the quality and cost of a range of different tools and machinery used in landscape construction.
• Identify tools and machinery used in everyday work by landscape contractors.
• Explain appropriate uses for different tools and machinery on a landscape construction site.
• Prepare landscape plans for a number of landscape sites
• Research and report on marking out boundaries in construction sites
• Describe how to locate contours
• Determine the fall of existing drains, and identify appropriate falls, spacing and depths of drains
• Observe and report on earth moving equipment in operation
• Survey a site and recommend earthworks necessary
• Examine surfacing materials for paths, gardens, etc and determine the appropriate landscaping function of each.
• Assess the construction of a range of different existing landscape features
• Describe preparation of foundations for a specified garden structure, on a specific site.
• Design a rockery at least 30 square metres in area
• Contact a range of suppliers of landscape materials and compare the products available in your locality.
• Identify materials needed to install an irrigation system on a site selected by you.
• Prepare plans of irrigation systems
• Research which species of plants are suitable for hedging in your locality
• Outline how to effectively transplant an existing tree
• Prepare a detailed risk assessment for a landscape construction site
• Identify safe working practices for a landscape construction site
• Determine a list of work tasks to be undertaken on a landscape construction site. Give a time frame for completion of the entire project

Playground Design

There are eight lessons in this unit as follows:

1. Overview of Parks and Playgrounds
2. Playground Philosophy
3. Preparing a Concept Plan
4. Materials
5. Park and Playground Structures and Materials
6. Local and Neighbourhood Parks
7. Community Participation In Park Development
8. Special Assignment.

Project Management

There are eight lessons in this unit, as follows:

1. Introduction
2. Project Identification
3. Project Planning
4. Project Implementation
5. Project Completion and Evaluation
6. Technical Project Management Skills
7. Leadership Skills
8. Improving Key Personnel Skills
9. Major Assignment - Developing full documentation for a project.

What You Will Do In This Course

• Research two projects and explain how they are being managed
• Explain the difference between general management and project management
• Decide on a project idea and describe: your project objective

HOW WILL THIS COURSE BENEFIT ME?

When choosing a course the most important things to consider are:

• Choose a course of study that best suits you and your future aspirations.
• Choose a course of study that will be broad enough for you to enable you to move across industry sectors should you want or need to.
• Choose a course of study that can be tailored to your needs and ambitions.
• Choose a course of study with a school that will encourage and support you and also give you practical along with theoretical skills.

ACS prides itself on all these things – our learning system ensures that students not only gather information but they absorb, retain and recall it (even years later). Problem Based Learning and Experiential Learning beats Competency based Training hands-down in producing quality graduates. Our courses are based on developing problem solving skills.

Will Studying Help me to be a Professional in Horticulture?

Many people study just to get a qualification, they rush their studies and just manage to scrape through their exams. In the workplace these people are found wanting as they just have not taken the time to gather the theoretical and practical ability to be true professionals. Advancing in a career or becoming a professional horticulturist isn’t just about horticultural skills and knowledge though - the industry needs graduates with:

• Sound demonstrable knowledge and skills across horticulture industry sectors but also pertinent to the job; A qualification is just one part of that, many people have qualifications but it is how you are able to apply and demonstrate your knowledge that will count most to your potential employer.

• Good communication skills: verbal, written and IT skills are the very basis of a professional in any industry and horticulture is no exception. You need to be able to communicate effectively at all levels – with workers, your peers, your employers and importantly your clients.

• Problem solving skills: this is so lacking in many graduates from competency based courses as their range of skills is limited to what is on the ‘list’ of competencies for that course, rather than expanded through the development of problem solving skills like ACS courses. In the work place, and as a professional, you will need to problem solve all the time – you need to be able to think on your feet, come up with quick solutions and make sure that those solutions are carried through and actually work.

• Efficiency: Being efficient doesn’t necessarily mean doing things quickly – efficiency is more linked to being a good organiser, a good planner, performing tasks in the correct, logical order and applying skills with adeptness and expertise.

• Professional attitude: be well presented and a team player, most employers are looking for people who can work with others effectively and work as a team. They prefer people with a demonstrable passion for the industry and those that network in within industry; volunteering to get experience, memberships to clubs, societies, associations; reading literature all help you gain a good profile and make you stand out from others applying for the same positions.

What Can You do to Improve Your Career Prospects?

• Technology also changes rapidly so being open to learning also keeps you abreast of new industry developments. Read, attend conferences, check the news in your industry, read industry papers, network and so on.

• Learn from a variety of sources: reading and learning from a variety of perspectives expands your knowledge, building a mix of skills that will make you stand out from the crowd.

• Make sure your C.V. is well written and presented and set out to current preferences –get help if you need it (tutors at this school will help our students with their C.V.'s if you ask - no cost. Resume writing services can also be used, but they charge).

• Recognise your weaknesses, and work on improving them - not just academically.