courses - General Horticulture Courses

For people who work, or hope to work, as a supervisor, manager or owner operator of a wholesale or production nursery. It develops an understanding of plant propagation (seed and cuttings), nursery hygiene, plant health, potting mixes and soils, production efficiencies, marketing, management, and more. This is a 900 hour covering both management and horticultural studies relating to running a... more

A 900 hour course for managers and supervisors of workers in arboriculture. There are 7 modules plus a 200 hr workplace project in this course. These are the 4 core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate, and three specialist units of study relating to the selection and culture of plants, with an emphasis on trees. The core studies cover office practices, business operations,... more

A 900 hour course develops both skills required to manage a retail business, and knowledge in identification, care and handling of plants and other products sold through retail nurseries. The course trains managers or supervisors rather than workers. There are 7 units plus a 200 hr workplace project in this course. These are the 4 core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate (... more

“Professional managers in horticulture are scarce and opportunities abound for those with the good solid qualifications this course delivers. If you are ready to advance your career, or have aspirations beyond the average, then this management focussed course (that also encourages thorough horticultural knowledge) will enable you to fulfil your goals.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child... more

“The nursery trade is crying out for well educated managers able to apply their knowledge and skills without constant supervision. This course covers all aspects of nursery management; it is structured to develop students with sound management skills.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child Care, Adv.Cert.App.Mgt., Cert IV Assessment and Training, Adv.Dip.Hort, ACS Tutor.Take a leap forward... more

This is a comprehensive course that provides training for people to work in the care and development of gardens, parks, or other areas of amenity horticulture (eg. Tree management, Turf management, interior plantscaping), at a Technician or Management level, in positions such as: Managers, Technical officers, or Consultants. It opens up so many new areas of opportunity in Horticulture. This... more

 “This course stands above the rest when it comes to management skills – you will have the confidence to manage parks and gardens (as well as staff) upon completion of this course. It enables you to develop and apply informed decisions rather then to just follow orders. In the future the demand for Parks and Gardens experts at management level will increase; be amongst those that are ready... more

“This is the place to start for anyone with an interest in amenity horticulture or who wishes to understand the industry. Graduates will develop knowledge of the industry at both a global and local level of the different sectors of the industry and become familiar with responsible environmental management strategies of natural and created landscapes.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert.,... more

“This course will help you to gain a broad overview of the use of horticultural practices and the effects it has on the environment, community and cultural issues. Very helpful to any person who is in a position of influence in the industry. - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Amenity horticulture is the fastest-growing area of horticulture, with... more

This course develops your skills and understanding in diagnosis and treatment of tree disorders, whether pests, diseases, nutritional or water problems, or something else. You learn about the standard tree surgery practices, to prune and train both young and established trees, and safety measures to follow.All too often trees are the forgotten giants of our garden areas. A shrub or ground cover... more

“This course provides graduates with more in-depth knowledge than Arboriculture I by focussing on such topics as transplanting techniques, environmental control, environmental tolerance, and strengthening techniques, as well as felling and stump removal. The course culminates with a lesson on establishing and designing a tree plantation geared at the serious professional.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc.,... more

“Flexibility is the key to this course - it won’t pigeon hole you into one area but develops the broad skills and flexibility required by horticulturists in all sectors of the industry. An excellent course for those not necessary wanting to specialise. More employment opportunities exist for those with broad knowledge and skills.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child Care,... more

DEVELOP A SUCCESFUL CAREER IN THE TURF INDUSTRYThis course provides a very sound foundation for a career in the turf industry. Graduates may find employment in such positions as a superintendent, greens manager, sales or marketing representative or technician.      “This is a specialist course that will really give you the opportunity for advancement in this field. If you are... more

“An entry level course – it enables you work with confidence in the arboriculture sector. Rather then just learning how to cut down trees (as is the case in so many courses in this sector) This course also covers general horticultural knowledge - very important in the general care of trees it also helps to expand the services you are able to offer.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child... more

“This is equivalent to studying a Trade Certificate in Horticulture. It covers what you would learn while doing an apprenticeship, so is valuable for those who want to learn about Horticulture from the ground up.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. If you want a career in horticulture, this is one of the best starting points. This Certificate was... more

“This is equivalent to doing a Trade Certificate. It focuses on aspects of turf and large gardens rather than on other areas of Horticulture. It would be a very useful course for those working in Resort Maintenance.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Accredited through International Accreditation & recognition CouncilA 700 hour course that provides... more

“This course is equivalent to doing a Trade Certificate. It focuses on the requirements for growing and maintaining plants in ornamental display gardens. A good course for people who want to work in parks and gardens where there are display beds to maintain.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Accredited through International Accreditation &... more

“This is equivalent to doing a Trade Certificate. It will give you the knowledge to specialise in the treatment of pest and disease problems. - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor.Accredited through International Accreditation & recognition CouncilA 700 hr certificate that provides initial training in the area of plant protection. This course is similar to... more

“This course equates to a Trade Certificate, and will impart the knowledge necessary to become a specialist in the area of propagation. - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Accredited through the International Accreditation & recognition CouncilA 600 hour course designed principally for plant propagators. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture... more

“This is equivalent to doing a Trade Certificate and places an emphasis on the cultural practices of caring for grounds, golf courses and turfed areas. - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor.A 600 hour course designed principally for turf workers at golf courses, bowling greens, sports fields, or councils. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture... more

Develop your ability to propagate a wide variety of different plants by cuttings. This is a particularly valued skill in today's nursery industry, and while no course alone is going to make you into an exceptional propagator, this training provides a necessary foundation needed to build these skills.  duration: 100 hours Develop your ability to propagate a wide variety of different plants by... more

“This fantastic course is for the serious horticulturist with a bent for science. However it also covers the more practical components of horticulture giving you an all round qualification. Opportunities abound for those completing this course – you can work in research, teach, or apply your skills to any industry sector.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child Care, Adv.Cert.App.Mgt.,... more

Lay the foundation for a career in Professional Horticulture.... more

“Here we have an incredibly informative course for anyone seeking to improve their ability to run or manage a garden centre. All aspects of indoor and outdoor plant care are discussed as well as stock selection and optimal plant display techniques. Graduates will also enhance their knowledge of typical garden centre products, marketing strategies, and how to get the most out of their staff.”... more

“The course starts at the basics of garden maintenance and works upwards. By the end of the course you will have a good idea of how to maintain gardens and how to approach plant health issues.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Maintain a garden in the most efficient way!Over ten lessons, you learn how to effectively maintain a garden while reducing... more

“There are many valuable skills to be learned in this course that will help you market your horticultural enterprise. You will learn strategies pertinent to this kind of business that you had never thought of!” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. In any business, including horticulture, success depends upon good marketing of your product. This subject... more

Develop the skills and knowledge needed to plan, conduct and report on research in social, technological and environmental issues that impact on Horticulture today and which are needed for strategic business planning.   This course has been developed by professionals in both Australia and the UK, with the aim of being relevant throughout the world. This is a module in the Royal... more

This course will further develop your ability to research and present a critical, written and numerical assessment of information related to social, technological, environmental and economic issues that impact on Horticulture today. With more advanced research skills, you will be able to contribute new insights into the field of horticulture, and our understanding of issues that affect it.A... more

“This course is suitable for a Manager of a horticultural business, or for anyone wanting to work in this kind of position. All aspects are covered, and it will refine the skills needed for this role.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Resource management for successful horticulture businesses. Planning for efficient and economical management in... more

The ideal course for the beginner, this is a basic, yet thoroughly practical course which gives you a sound broad technical grounding in horticultural principles and practices. A section of each lesson involves plant identification. YOU WILL LEARN: To identify, propagate and care for 80 different types of plants. The systematic way plants are classified. Structure and parts of a flower. To... more

“This course is great for expanding your knowledge of a variety of plants that you will come across in all aspects of Horticulture. Plant id skills are an absolute requirement of being a Professional Horticulturalist, and this is a good place to gain that knowledge.”- Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Learn  to identify, care and use of plants in a... more

“If you want to know more about providing optimum care for plants, I suggest this course as a good foundation for learning to deal with any pest or disease problem.”- Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor.  Learn with this practical course to identify and control pest and diseases in plants. Develop a deep understanding of plant health, the... more

“Everyone needs to know about irrigation if they are working in gardens or nurseries, so this course will be really helpful for learning about different irrigation methods and how to establishing them.”- Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. Learn how to build and maintain an efficent irrigation system. This is a ten lesson course that covers... more

“This course would be useful for a person in charge of an irrigation system in a horticultural enterprise such as a nursery, or turf care business. It will illustrate the best ways to run your systems efficiently.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. The following topic areas are covered: Ways to optimise water efficiency Scheduling irrigation for... more

DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH ANIMALS AND NATURE?Then this course is for you!This course has been specifically designed for people working or wishing to work in nature parks and reserves, in managerial or technical positions.Learn about natural environments, and the management of zoos, wildlife parks, nature reserves. Develop an understanding of the natural environment and basic ecological... more

“This course will help you to round off your skills! Couple this course with the previous one to provide you with broader plant skills. It also enables you to understand all the components that make up a nature park.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child Care, Adv.Cert.App.Mgt., Cert IV Assessment and Training, Adv.Dip.Hort, ACS Tutor.This course is a natural progression from Nature Park... more

 “If you are looking to work in a wholesale nursery, or are planning to set up your own, this course provides a good foundation of applicable skills. After this course you will feel confident taking on work in this interesting industry.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. An introductory course which shows the beginner how to get started in the... more

Do you want to work outdoors! “Those who seek to enter the nursery industry or who are currently employed in a nursery will find this course invaluable. From plant identification to propagation, nursery structures to irrigation, this course has it all. Graduates will be accomplished in all aspects of nursery work from the ground up to marketing.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden... more

“Whether dealing directly with members of the public or with other professionals such as landscape gardeners, it is imperative that nursery sales staff have sufficient plant knowledge to communicate effectively. That’s where this course comes in. A must do course for those wishing to improve their sales skills whilst simultaneously improving their awareness of plant identification, use, and... more

“Building on the first operational business module this course delves into the prominent legal aspects of the horticulture industry in terms of contract and employment law as well as sound financial practices. In addition, man management techniques designed to improve productivity are discussed. Ideal for anyone in a horticultural management position.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert.,... more

Develop a capacity to apply legal, contractual and staff management considerations to demonstrate informed interpretation and analysis, critical thought processes and an understanding of complex issues in relation to the management of a range of different sectors of the horticulture industry. Prerequisite: Operational Business Management IA module from the RHS M.Hort (based on curriculum... more

This course shows you how to grow plants naturally with organic methods. Develop a solid understanding of the principles and procedures underlying the cultivation of fruit and vegetables by natural methods. Work with the environment and without the use of artificial fertilizers or sprays. It is a similar course to commercial organic vegetable growing, but has more on fruit trees/crops in course... more

Plant breeding is a bigger industry than most people realize. In some places, earnings from plant breeding rights can equal or exceed earnings from actually producing plants. Today's nurseryman needs to understand plant breeding and selection; and to this end, this course is a very valuable and unique course for anyone working in the modern industry.Plant breeding is a bigger industry than most... more

Learn how to treat plant health problems correctly! A must course for horticulturalist that want to boost their plant health and prevent damage by pests and diseases. This course develops your understanding of all types of plant diseases (fungal, viral, bacterial, non-infectious); their life cycles, and ways they can be controlled both with and without chemicals. This knowledge is vital for all... more

Learn to identify diseases, insects & weeds; and to select and use appropriate treatments. Control techniques and safety are both covered in detail. A course for technicians, gardeners and horticulturalists that need to know in detail horticultural pest and disease identification and control, with chemical and biological solutions and safety procedures and practices.   A course for technicians,... more

Can you learn the practical side of horticulture by distance education?  This course is the ANSWER! It really does work, particularly if done online, or on CD, where you can make full use of interactive learning tasks and coloured photography on the computer. This course has been written to satisfy curriculum developed by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK (Advanced Certificate and... more

A course to develop all the practical skills that you learn when working under the supervision of an horticultural expert. The course contains all the tips to develop excellent practical skills in the management of a variety of horticultural situations. You will feel confident to take on tasks and achieve good skills in your field.A course to develop all the practical skills that you learn when... more

A "Specialised Qualification" for people that has the experience and need a theoretical foundation and a qualification. This comprises a set syllabus consisting generally of 30 lessons that relate to a particular specialist theme. A Proficiency Award allows you to study subjects in a highly specialised area. You select and study three short courses of your own choice, which relate to each other... more

Why not develop your broad skills in plant propagation!  Plants are propagated both sexually (from two parents eg. seed & spore) and asexually (from two parents eg. cuttings, grafting, layers, division). This course deals with the principles of propagation, and all of these methods; as well as materials and equipment.This is a module from the accredited RHS Diploma and provides credit toward... more

This vocationally-oriented course comprises core studies in general horticulture plus specialised elective studies. The course is designed to lay a foundation for a long-term career in horticulture by developing the ability to identify a large range of plants, knowledge of essential horticultural principles and practices and practical skills in plant propagation, growth and care. This course... more

“It may be obvious to most that healthy soils produce healthy plants, but what is a healthy soil when it comes to crop production? This course goes deep into the chemical and physical aspects of soil composition, testing, and management to provide the student with the necessary skills to manipulate soils for optimal crop yields.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS... more

“This is a must do course for those currently working in the turf care industry or who are looking to enter it. Students will not only cover the basics in terms of drainage, cultivation, mowing, weeding, and feeding of refined turf, but will also explore appropriate techniques for managing different types of sports turfs.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS... more

Tissue culture involves growing plants from very small sections (sometimes microscopic) in a laboratory. It is a propagation method which is being increasingly used. Tissue culture is not appropriate for many plants, but for others such as orchids, some indoor plants and in particular, many new plant varieties, it is a very popular propagation method. Explain the nature of plant growth processes,... more

 “If you want to know about rehabilitating sites without having to do a degree, this is a good place to obtain the knowledge necessary to get you up and running. It offers hands on and practical.”- Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, ACS Tutor. This course develops an understanding of environmental systems and the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes. You... more

“This is the ideal course for anyone wishing to undertake employment in a turf or lawn business, or as a landscape gardener. You will learn the basics in terms of turf grass varieties, soil management, cultivation techniques, irrigation and feeding of turfs used for different purposes. You will also acquire more specialised knowledge of weed, pest, and disease control to complete a well... more

“Aimed at landscapers, home gardeners, and other turf industry workers, this course enlightens the student as to everything that one could possibly wish to know about turf care. Here, you will discover how to control even the most chronic of turf diseases and learn the ultimate methods to produce lush, dense, green turf.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS... more

Learn to identify and effectively control more than 100 weeds, to design management strategies and programs and apply control techniques efficiently and safely. In the eight lessons covered in the book you learn about both chemical and non-chemical control methods (mulching, burning, mowing), the use of spray equipment and safety procedures which should be followed. To distinguish... more

"This fascinating course works as a compendium of all you need to know about establishing a nursery and running it to its maximum profitability. Everything from site selection, plant specialisation, irrigation and feeding techniques, to marketing strategies, cost analyses, and employee productivity is covered. Nursery managers and owners alike will benefit tremendously from completing this... more