If you want a career in horticulture- you should start here.
This is a great course if you are starting out in the industry!
Learn the essentials:
Plants, Soils, Nutrition, Weeds, Water, Pruning, Pests and Diseases, Landscaping, Propagation, Lawns, Trees
Receive a 10% discount and 2 free ebooks when you enrol into this course here (this is a savings of up to $140). You would get the following ebooks by John Mason and staff of ACS Distance Education:


This course has been running since 1979
- Revised and upgraded every year
- Learn ALL the basics -and have a foundation that makes learning on the job much easier
- Build your contacts in the industry, be tutored by internationally renowned garden experts
- Thousands Have Started their Horticulture Career Here!
COURSE STRUCTURE
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.
(Note: Online and CD versions may vary slightly)
COURSE AIMS
Distinguish between different plants, to enable identification of the plant species.
- Explain appropriate procedures for establishing a range of plants in different conditions.
- Describe the characteristics of plant growing media necessary for healthy plant growth.
- Explain the characteristics of plant nutrition necessary for healthy plant growth.
- Determine appropriate water management procedures for healthy plant growth.
- Understand appropriate procedures for pruning plants on a horticultural site.
- Determine solutions for the management of a range of common weeds.
- Determine solutions for the management of a range of common pests and diseases.
- Prepare a concept plan for the development of a garden.
- Understand commonly used plant propagation techniques.
- Develop guidelines for general lawn care.
- Develop guidelines for general tree care in a horticultural situation.
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.
Duration: 100 hours