Lesson Structure:  Garden Maintenance VHT100

There are 10 lessons:

1  Introduction – Planning and managing a garden

• The Cost of Garden Maintenance
• The Cost of Winter Maintenance
• What Costs?
• What happens if you don’t maintain a garden?
• Expensive Areas in a Garden
• Less Expensive Areas
• Planning
• Checklists for Gardening: General Garden Maintenance, Garden Beds and Lawns, Weeds, Pests and Diseases
• Analysis of Parks Maintenance
• Major Areas of Parks Maintenance Work
• Departmental Organisation and Staffing in Parks
• Standard Areas of Responsibility
• Grey Areas of Responsibility
• Building a Staff Organisation

2  Garden Furnishings and Machinery

• Tools
• The Right Tool for the Job
• Garden Maintenance
• Broad Overview of Machinery for Parks Maintenance
• Irrigation
• Other Maintenance Tools
• Looking After Tools
• Power Tools: Engine Troubleshooting
• Outdoor Furniture
• Protecting Outdoor Furniture
• Paints, Stains and Preservatives
• Painting Your Outdoor Furniture at a Glance

3  Feeding Plants

• Introduction
• Symptons and Diagnosis
• How to Conduct an Inspection
• Soil Physical Characteristics
• Identifying Soil Types
• Soil Chemical Characteristics
• Cation Exchange Capacity
• Buffering Capacity
• Plant Nutrition
• Nutrient Elements
• Choosing the Right Fertiliser
• Diagnosing Nutritional Problems
• Improving Soils

4  Weed Control

• Weeds: Weed Control Techniques
• Identifying Weeds
• Weed Encyclopaedia

5  Weedicides

• How Weeds are Spread
• Herbicides
• Law in Relation to Chemical Use
• Regulations
• Types of Herbicide Chemicals
• Poisonous Plants
• Environmental Weeds
• Noxious Weeds
• Weed Control For Specific Areas

6  Natural Pest Control

• Natural Pest and Disease Control
• Cultural Control
• Mechanical Control
• Physical Controls
• Methods for Controlling Certain Insect Pests
• Beneficial Plants
• Other Reported Beneficial Plants With Pesticide Qualities
• Companion Planting
• Companion Planting Chart
• Common Environmental Problems: Drainage Problems, Frost, Hail, Shade, Temperature, Wind
• Deterring Cats, Dogs, Mice, Rats etc
• Tolerance Levels
• Biological Controls
• Natural Sprays
• General Ways of Protecting Plants
• Wind-Breaks
• Mulching

7  Chemical Pest Control

• Chemical Treatments
• Integrated Pest Managent
• Ways of Applying Chemicals
• Safety Procedures When Using Chemicals
• Understanding Chemical Pesticides Before Use
• Summary of Pesticides
• Commonly Used Pesticides
• Fungicides
• Pests
• Diseases
• Viruses

8  Turf Management

• Common Turf Problems
• Establising and Maintaining Lawns and Grassed Areas
• Lawn Mixes
• What to Grow Where
• Lawn/Turf Establishment
• Soil Preparation
• Seeding
• Instant Turf
• Stolonising
• Sprigging
• Plugging
• Mowing Lawns
• Lawn Mowers
• Mowing Guidelines
• Mowing Heights
• Fertilising Turf
• How to Aerate, Scarify, Top Dress and Fertilise a Lawn
• How to Repair Turf
• Golden Rukes for Laying Instant Turf
• Turf Varities in Parks and Maintenance
• Conclusion

9  Irrigation

• Water and Plant Growth
• Soil Water
• Irrigation
• Planning an Irrigation System
• How to Use a Watering System
• Slippery Slime Control

10 Maintenance of Plants

• Pruning
• Pruning Evergreens
• General Pruning Techniques For Ornamental Flowering Shrubs and Trees
• Winter Pruning
• Pruning Fruit Trees
• Pruning Lemon Trees
• Pruning Perennials
• Pruning Roses
• Pruning Tools
• Environmental Influences on Plants
• Physical Plant Protection Methods
• Drainage

N.B. Each lesson is followed by a self-assessment test, set task or tasks which could include: further research, networking, plus looking at the advantages and disadvantages of a particular subject and finally written assignments. The final written assignment is marked and graded by your personally assigned mentor and sent back with helpful comments and suggestions.

Learning Goals:  Garden Maintenance VHT100

• Evaluate the maintenance needs and develop a plan for maintaining a garden.
• Select and maintain tools and equipment appropriately for use in garden maintenance.
• Describe maintenance requirements for garden structures such as furniture, gates and fencing.
• Maintain appropriate nutrition requirements for healthy plant growth.
• Control weeds in a garden.
• Use weedicides in a safe and effective way.
• Control pests using non chemical methods.
• Use chemical pesticides safely and efficiently.
• Maintain lawns in a healthy and well maintained condition.
• Describe options for managing water in a garden.
• Determine actions that should be taken to maintain a variety of different plants.

Your tutor for this course is:

Susan Stephenson

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. 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.