It's Easy to Enrol
£355.00 Payment plans available.
Enable Javascript to automatically update prices.
Courses can be started at any time from anywhere in the world!
RHS Certificate 2 - Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment & Maintenance
Course Code VHT039 Fee Code S3 Duration (approx) 100 hours Qualification Certificate
OPEN LEARNING HORTICULTURE COURSE - DISTANCE LEARNING
GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN HORTICULTURE
Accredited in the UK
Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society
Study Online; or using CD or printed notes : your choice
100 hourse study where and when you want, from anywhere in the world, and complete the course as fast or slow as best suits you
NEW in 2010
This course provides a route to employment in professional horticulture by assessing knowledge of the scientific principles and underpinning horticultural practices, and supports career development for those already working in the profession. It also provides a foundation for further learning or training in the field of horticulture.
The course consists of 4 units :
Unit 1 – Garden features, plant selection and planning. Unit 2 – The choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns. Unit 3 – The production of outdoor vegetables and fruit. Unit 4 – Protected environments and their use in plant cultivation. There are
10 lessons in this course:
Principles of Garden Design
Introduction Landscape Principles (Unity, Balance, Proportion, Harmony, Contrast, Rythm) Design Elements (Line, Form, Mass, Space, Texture, Colour, Tone) Landscape Effects Colour in Garden Design Formal Gardens Informal Gardens Cottage Gardens Minimalist Gardens Natural Landscapes Oriental Gardens Mediterranean Gardens Tropical Gardens Plant Identification, Culture and Use -Reviewing a range of plants Conducting Garden Surveys and Planning
Appraising a Site and Collecting Data for Planning Components of the Pre Planning Phase Use of Hard Garden Features and Hard Surfaces Scale for Landscape Plans Triangulation Surveying Slope Direct Contouring The Grid System Levelling Terminology and Procedure The site Plan Concept Plan Final Plan Other Plans Design Procedure Landscape Graphics Putting Pen to Paper Lettering and Graphics Use of Hard Landscaping Features
Hard and Soft Landscaping Surfaces in the Garden Paving Using Pebbles Rockeries Mulching and Erosion Matting Barriers and Walls Trellis Types of Fencing Patios Seating Garden Structures Garden Art, Features and Furnishings Pools, Ponds and Water Gardens Environmental Sustainability Use of Soft Garden Features
Choosing Plants Purchasing Plants Trees in the Landscape (Deciduous, Semi Deciduous, Evergreen) Shrubs Perennials and Herbs Types of Herb Gardens Wildflower Meadows Perennial Displays Annuals Flower Bed Design Cottage Gardens Scented Plants Climbers and Growing plants on Trellis Lawns and Turf varieties Plant Establishment and Maintenance
Plants in the Landscape Plant Selection Environmental Factors Improving Environmental Conditions Selecting the Right Plant Which Plant to Buy Understanding Soils and Fertility Plant Nutrition Preparing a Garden Transplanting Techniques Fertilising and Staking Planting Bare Rooted Plants Time of Planting Planting Mistakes to Avoid Gardening in Dry Areas Colourful Year Round Foliage Establishing Annual and Herbaceous Plants Seed Selecting Herbaceous Plants and Bulbs Dividing and Separating Perennials Herbaceous Borders Maximising Flower Displays Selecting Woody Plants Trees and Tree Health Selecting Flowering Shrubs Hedges Climbers Water Plants and Pond Management Plant Health Weed Management Pruning
What, Where and Why Prune Removing Dead and Diseased Wood Controlling Type of Growth Distinguishing between Bud Types Controlling Shape and Size Pruning to Rejuvinate a Plant Winter Pruning How to Prune Pruning Different Specific Plant Genera Espaliers Dead Heading Tree Pruning Stopping, Disbudding, Root Pruning, Dead heading etc. Lawns; Establishment and Maintenance
Turf Establishment Soil Preparation Seeding, Stolonising, Sodding, Sprigging, Plugging Mowers and Mowing Turf Fertilising Turf Renovation: aeration, scarification, top dressing etc Outdoor Food Production; Vegetables
Introduction to Growing Outdoor Food Crops Growing Techniques for Vegetables Planning a Crop Starting a Vegetable Garden Managing the Crop (Weed Control, Pests, Water etc) Special Techniques: No Dig, Green Manure, Cover Crops, Compost etc) Sustainable Cultivation Techniques Planting Techniques Review of major Vegetable Crops Managing Water and Irrigation Outdoor Food Production; Fruit
Choosing a Site and Establishing an Orchard Location, Climate, Rainfall and other Site Considerations Deciding what to Grow Scope of Fruit Growing Pest and Disease Management on Fruit -Chemical and Non Chemical Environmental Problems and their Management Pruning Fruit Trees Pollination Review of Sigificant types of Fruits, Berries and Citrus Developing a Production Plan Protected Cultivation
Introduction to Protected Growing Types of Growing Structures Factors Affecting Light Transmission in Growing Structures Management of Greenhouses: Benches, Hygeine, Watering, Temperature Control etc Shade Houses Computerised Environmental Control Heating Systems Controlling Light Irrigation & Nutrition Control Feeding Plants Pest and Disease Control in Greenhouses Containers for Growing in Potting Media Indoor Plants and their Management Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
Develop an understanding of: design principles and how to apply them; basic surveying; garden features, plant selection; garden planning. Develop an understanding of plant selection, establishment and maintenance of a range of ornamental plants and lawns. Develop an understanding of basic cultural operations and production methods for outdoor vegetable and fruit crops. Develop an understanding of: environmental controls, uses and appropriate applications of greenhouses and other protected plant growing structures; the production of a range of plants in protected structures and the care of plants in the house and conservatory.
PLEASE NOTE: To obtain the certificate, awarded by the RHS in England, the student needs to sit and pass written exams conducted under supervision, and assessed by the RHS.
Exams can be arranged to be sat anywhere in the world. Exams are offered twice annually; in February and June. A separate fee applies for exams; set by and paid to the RHS. A network of exam centres are located across the UK for students located in the UK For students located elsewhere; a provision is made for exams to be conducted "under arrangements for exceptional supervision". This is one of several new RHS Qualifications being phased in to replace older courses over the second half of 2010.
The older courses can still be studied with ACS, but there will be cut off dates on their accreditation; and the possibility of sitting an RHS exam for the older qualification may be missed. Opportunities will be made available to upgrade from the older courses to the new qualifications, irrespective.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Why Choose This Course
Unique course materials (developed by our staff) and more current than some colleges (many reviewed annually); as a result, ACS graduates can be more up to date. We work hard to help you understand and remember it, develop an ability to apply it in the real world, and build networks with others who work in this field (It’s more than just serving up a collection of information –if all you want is information, buy a book; but if you want an education, that takes learning to a whole new level). Start whenever you want, study at your own pace, study anywhere Don’t waste time and money traveling classes We provide more choices–courses are written to allow you more options to focus on parts of the subject that are of more interest to you; a huge range of elective subjects are offered that don’t exist elsewhere. Tutors are accessible (more than elsewhere) – academics work in both the UK and Australia, 5 days a week, 16 hours a day. Answering emails and phone calls from students are top priority. We treat students as individuals –don’t get lost in a crowd. Our tutors communicate with you one to one. Extra help at no extra cost if needed. When you find something you cannot do, we help you through it or will provide another option. Support after you finish a course –We can advise about getting work, starting business, writing a CV, etc. We can promote students and their businesses through our extensive profile on the internet. Graduates who ask will be helped. Support from a team of a dozen professional horticulturists, living in different parts of the UK, and in both temperate and tropical climate zones of Australia. About ACS
ACS was started in 1979 by John Mason, who at the time was a gardening author, horticultural consultant and lecturer in horticulture at several colleges across Melbourne (in Australia). Over the summer that year John discovered that there were thousands of applicants going to be turned away from horticulture courses at Burnley Horticultural College (now Melbourne University). There were simply too few courses being offered for the number of people wanting to study horticulture in Australia. This situation prompted a move to establish a correspondence course at Burnley; but after months of unsuccessful lobbying for support from government; John wrote a course, and with help from a colleague at Council of Adult Education, marketed it.
Standards were originally set in line with what were seen to be the standards of Australia's top horticultural college; and over the years, those standards have never been reduced. This makes our courses longer and more demanding than some other colleges; but it has also led to us building a credibility that stands tall in the horticulture industry across the world.
In the early 1990's John started visiting the UK and becoming involved with the horticulture industry there. Around the mid 1990's ACS began offering RHS courses, and in 2003, John was formally recognised for his contribution to British Horticulture by being made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture. ACS, as a school, established an office and staff in the UK in 2001, and has expanded considerably since then. Today it is formally affiliated with five other colleges in the UK (including Warwickshire College); all of who license and deliver ACS courses.
A team of leading horticulturists work for the school's horticulture department, including 12 faculty members in both the UK and Australia
How You Study
As soon as you enroll, we send an email to explain it all. We direct you to a short orientation video (downloadable over the internet) to watch, where our principal introduces you to how the course works, and how you can access all sorts of support services You are either given a code to access your course online, or sent out a CD or course materials through the mail (or by courier). Work through lessons one by one, each lesson typically having four parts:
An aim -which tells you what you should be achieving in the lesson Reading -notes written and regularly revised by our academic staff Set Task(s) -These are practicals, research or other experiential learning tasks that strengthen and add to what you have been reading Assignment -By answering questions, submitting them to a tutor, then getting feedback from the tutor, you confirm that you are on the right track, but more than that, you are guided to consider what you have been studying in different ways, broadening your perspective and reinforcing what you are learning about Other - Your work in a course rarely stops at just the above four parts. Different courses and different students will need further learning experiences. Your set task or assignment may lead to other things, interacting with tutors or people in industry, reviewing additional reference materials or something else. We treat every student as an individual and supplement their learning needs as the occasion requires. We provide access to and encourage you to use a range of supplementary services including an online student room, including online library; student bookshop, newsletters, social media etc. We provide a "student manual", that is a quick solution to most problems that might occur Recognition
ACS has a highly respected international profile: by employers and academics alike. People are more aware of us than many other distance education schools –just do a search for “horticulture distance education courses” and see what comes up on the internet; or search for ACS Distance education on Facebook or Linked in, and see how many connections we have compared to other colleges. Recognised by International Accreditation and Recognition Council ACS has been educating people around the world since 1979 Over 100,000 have now studied ACS courses, across more than 150 countries Formal affiliations with colleges in five countries A faculty of over 40 internationally renowned academics –books written by our staff used by universities and colleges around the world. Extra Books or Reference Materials
The course provides you with everything that you need to complete it successfully. Assignments may ask you to look for extra information (eg. by contacting nurseries, visiting gardens or searching the internet), but our school's resources and tutors are always available as a back up. If you hit a "roadblock", we can quickly send you additional information or provide expert advice over the phone or email; to keep you moving in your studies. Some students choose to buy additional references, to take their learning beyond what is essential for the course. If a student wants to buy books, we operate an online bookshop offering ebooks written by staff at the school. Student discounts are available if you are studying with us. The range of e books available is being expanded rapidly, with at least one new ebook being written and published by our staff every month. See www.acsebook.com for ebooks (available in pounds stirling). We also sell books through our Australian bookshop (selling in Australian dollars) at www.acsbookshop.com
