CERTIFICATE in HORTICULTURE – LEARN THE BASICS  

LESSON STRUCTURE:

There are 18 lessons:   150 hours – Certificate in Horticulture – Learn the Basics

1. Introduction
2. Lawns and Grassland  – Part 1
3. Lawns and Grasslands – Part 2
4. How Plants Work
5. Vegetables
6. Ornamental Plants and Propagation
7. Soils
8. Trees and Shrubs
9. Flowers
10. Pollination and Fertilisation
11. Fruit
12. Genetics and Breeding
13. Pest, Diseases and Disorders
14. Plant Physiology
15. Plant Protection and Artificial Environments
16. Water
17. Weeds and soil management
18. Ecology and the Environment

SHORT COURSE – PLANT HEALTH  – 20 hours

It always seems that the more work you do in a garden, the more pest and disease problems seem to appear. For this reason, the keen home gardener and the professional landscaper need to be aware about what pests and diseases they may come in contact with, and how to control them.

This Study Guide will help the home gardener and those working in horticulture at an entry level to identify and control a range of the most common pests and diseases of plants.

There are 6 lessons:

1:  Identifying problems
2:  Treating problems
3:  Problems and the plants they affect
4:  Pests
5:  Diseases
6:  Environmental problems

How this  Short  Course is Assessed:

This course is completed entirely online, including lessons, self-assessment tests, plus obtaining your certificate at the end, which is immediately downloadable after successful completion. Please note that there is no tutor support, as it is not required. The assessment breakdown is as follows:

Study lesson 1.

1. When you are ready, take the self-assessment test. Retake until you reach the required level of learning.
2. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the following lessons.
3. Take the final assessment.

Download your certificate of completion, with your name on it.

E-book  – PRUNING

Not confident in pruning or don’t know how to prune, when to prune or why to prune? This ebook will help you to demystify pruning and pruning techniques – simply and easily.  There are many reasons for pruning and in this book, these reasons will be identified:

• Why, when, and what to prune and how pruning affects plants
• General pruning guidelines
• Information on pruning tools and equipment
• How to prune hedges and shape plants e.g. espaliers, topiary, bonsai
• How to manage pruning material – chipping, compost, mulch
• Information on pruning for fruit
• How to prune roses
• A directory of plants – how to prune what

Add this E-book to your gardening tool box!

Pages: 147 – Pictures: 180 – ISBN: 978-0-9943737-4-8

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1.  introduction
Chapter 2.  types of pruning
Chapter 3.  pruning tools and equipment
Chapter 4.  pruning hedges
Chapter 5.  shaping plants
Chapter 6.  managing prunings
Chapter 7.  pruning for fruit production
Chapter 8.  pruning roses
Chapter 9.  compendium of plants: how to prune what and when
Appendix

YOUR TUTOR

Susan  Stephenson is our Head Horticultural Tutor who has been tutoring for ADL for over 10 years.

This course “Horticulture – Learn the Basics” was authored by Susan  with the aim of helping those students who may be considering a career in horticulture,  but have no knowledge or very little knowledge of this subject.  Her horticultural expertise, as well as her experience in preparing students for RHS examinations, is an added bonus in contributing to our student’s career successes.

If you are thinking about preparing for an RHS qualification, but don’t feel you have sufficient horticultural knowledge, then this course is ideal for you, as it will provide you with a solid horticultural foundation.

Below is a brief summary of Susan’s achievements:

Susan Stephenson

BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983. City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984) Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love of plants and garden design. She is, therefore, well-placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers, and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

In 2010, Susan authored a complete module for a Foundation degree (FDSC) in Arboriculture.

Susan holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

Certificate in Horticulture – Learn the Basics

Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.
If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.

In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience.  Set Tasks are not required for assessment.

Optional Self-Tests are available on our online learning platform and most courses have this feature. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.

Tailored Feedback.
Tutors give tailored feedback (not generic) at the end of each assignment.

Short Courses – 20 hours

This course is completed entirely online, including lessons, self-assessment tests, plus obtaining your certificate at the end, which is immediately downloadable after successful completion. Please note that there is no tutor support, as it is not required. The assessment breakdown is as follows:

1. Study lesson 1.
2. When you are ready, take the self-assessment test. Retake until you reach the required level of learning.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the following lessons.
4. Take the final assessment.
5. Download your certificate of completion, with your name on it.

Now you are ready to stand out at a job interview, or put your newly acquired knowledge to use straightaway.

E-books

Our E-books have been written to complement additional reading to our Certificate courses.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.