Certificate In Horticulture (Grounds Management)

Certificate in Horticulture involves the areas of work:

1. CORE STUDIES - involves around 350 hours, divided into 15 lessons, approx. half of the course.
2. STREAM STUDIES - a further 350 hours of study specific to irrigation, soils, plant care, pest, disease and weed control and turf care.

CORE UNITS:

1. Introduction to Plants
2. Parts of the Plant
3. Plant Culture - Planting
4. Plant Culture - Pruning
5. Plant Culture
6. Soils & Media
7. Soils & Nutrition Fertilisers.
8. Propagation - Seeds & Cutting
9. Propagation - Other Techniques
10. Identification and Use of Plants
11. Identification and Use of Plants
12. Identification and Use of Plants
13. Pests
14. Diseases
15. Weeds

• Develop general and broad based skills in horticultural practices and plant identification.
• Develop skills and knowledge in diagnosis and treatment of pest, disease and weed control problems.
• Develop knowledge and skills in turf selection and maintenance to a required standard.
• Develop skills and knowledge in the establishment and maintenance of ornamental trees and shrubs.
• Develop skills and knowledge in the management and improvement of soils for growing plants.
• Develop knowledge and skills about the selection and operation of a variety of watering systems suitable for the irrigation of    plants and turf in amenity 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.