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Horticulture I (Foundations)

Horticulture I (Foundations) – Level 3 – 100 Hours Certificate Course

Course Code:

BHT101

Level:

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Anytime

Finish:

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Study From:

Anywhere

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Learn About Horticulture I (Foundations)

Horticulture I (Foundations) Online Course

Gain a broad technical grounding in horticultural principles and practice with this distance learning Horticulture Online Course from ADL.

The ideal course for the beginner, this is a basic, yet thoroughly practical course. Each lesson involves plant identification.

This module has been written to teach horticulture in a way relevant to all parts of the world. It puts aside regional techniques, and tries to teach you principles and concepts which can be applied to anywhere.

By the end of the course, you will have learned to:

Scientifically identify around 100 plants
Understand soils
Propagate plants
Prune plants
Identify and control pests and diseases
Control weeds
Establish, repair and care for turf
Plan and draw a simple garden design

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

To be successful in horticulture, you need passion, determination and be willing to stay the course!

If this defines you; we’ll help you get started.

However, a solid foundation should be built first, so that you understand the science that underpins horticulture, as well as the ability to identify a variety of plants (as plant knowledge is crucial for good horticulture).

It may lead to the following:

People working in nurseries or garden centers often don’t know how to identify plants.
A lot of gardeners have zero formal training, and it shows!
Turning a passion for gardening into a career.
An introduction to further education.

Student Comment:

“Hi there
I would like to submit my Horticulture I BHT101 assignment 10 on Landscaping for marking please to my tutor, Sue Stephenson.

This assignment has been a really interesting one for me and has taken me much longer than normal, but, I’ve enjoyed working on it as I’ve never ‘attemtpted’ to put together a garden design before – very thought provoking. Thing is, it’s like a painting isn’t it, how do you know when it is finished!” Tracey R, Certificate in Horticulture I BHT101, UK

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Course Information

Click the + and – below to expand/collapse the sections.

Lessons

Lesson Structure: Horticulture I (Foundations) BHT101

There are 13 lessons:

1 Plant identification

Naming plants
Distinguishing the taxonomic divisions of plants including family, genus, species and variety or hybrid
Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
Characteristics of botanical families
Structure and arrangement of leaves and leaflets
Leaf terminology
Leaf arrangements
Flower structure and identifying the different parts of a flower
How seeds form
Plant reviews
Collecting and pressing plants for herbaria

2 Planting

Garden terminology
Common garden problems
Basic planting procedure
Fertilising and staking when planting
Dealing with bare rooted plants
Time of planting
Deciding where to plant
Mulching
Making garden beds
Raised beds
Sunken beds
Planting terminology

3 Recognising plant families and identifying plants

Becoming familiar with plant families
Botanical Latin
Systematic examination of plants – dicot or monocot, type of wood, etc
Characteristics of important families including: Amaryllidaceae, Araceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae.
Getting to know more common families
Other ways to identify plants
Plants for shade
Plants for exposed conditions
Plants for inner city gardens

4 Soils

Purpose of soil
Soil structure: classifying soils
Soil water and air
Soil temperature
Soil pH
Nutrient availability
Naming a soil
Improving soils
Composting
Natural plant foods
Sampling and testing soils
Potting soil mixes
Soil terminology

5 Plant nutrition

The nutrient elements
Major elements
Minor elements
Diagnosis of nutrient problems
Fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
How much fertilizer to apply
Terminology

6 Water management

Introduction to irrigation
Feasibility of irrigation
Soil and water
When to irrigate
Water deficiency symptoms
Types of soil moisture; gravitational, capillary, hygroscopic
Measuring water available to plants
Rooting depths of plants
Estimating water requirements
Pumps, sprinklers and other equipment
Understanding hydraulics
Conventional sprinkler systems; portable, permanent, semi permanent
Cyclic watering
Pulse watering
Irrigation scheduling
Sprinkler spacing
Improving soils for water management
Drainage
Erosion management
Soil compaction
Acidification

7 Garden maintenance and weeds

Cost of garden maintenance
Machinery
Comparing more and less costly areas of the garden.
Common weeds and their identification
Weed control methods – chemical and non chemical
Plants that become invasive
Environmental weeds

8 Pests and diseases

Pest and disease overview
Preventative measures for managing pest and disease
Review of major pest problems and control options: Aphis, Borers, Caterpillar, Leaf Miner, Mealy Bug, Red Spider, Scale, etc
Review of major diseases and their control: Anthracnose, Black Leg, Rots, Botrytis, Damping off, Die back, Mildew, Rust etc.
Diagnosis of problems
Introduction to plant pathology and entomology
Chemical pesticides and basic toxicology
Integrated pest management

9 Pruning

Reasons for pruning
Identifying bud types
Basic rules of pruning
Pruning in a home orchard
Terminology
Winter pruning tools
Examples of winter pruning; Crepe Myrtle, Hydrangea, Raspberry, Fuchsia, Kiwi Fruit, Grevillea, etc
Rose pruning

10 Landscaping

Introduction and pre planning information
Plant selection criteria
Covering the ground
Living plant cover
Mulches
Container growing outside
General considerations
Terminology

11 Propagation

Methods of propagation: seed propagation and vegetative propagation
Propagation structures: cold frames
Cutting propagation
Factors affecting rooting of cuttings

12 Lawns

Turf grass varieties
Review of common turf species
Laying a new lawn
Common turf problems
Cultural techniques including watering, fertilizing, topdressing, aerating, pest and disease control.

13 Arboriculture

What is arboriculture
How to keep trees healthy
Where and how to cut trees to remove branches or prune
Why remove a tree
Ways to fell a tree
Removing a stump
Tree surgery; terms and techniques

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.

Learning Goals

Practical (Set Tasks)

Practicals: Horticulture I (Foundations) BHT101

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.
The ideal course for the beginner, this is a basic, yet thoroughly practical course.ÃÂ A section of each lesson involves plant identification.
This subject has been written to teach horticulture in a way that is relevant to all parts of the world. It puts aside regional techniques, and tries to teach you principles and concepts which can be applied to anywhere.

More Information

HOW TO IMPROVE SOILS

Before deciding how to, or even whether to improve a soil, you need to know the properties of that soil:

Drainage can be tested easily by observing the way in which water moves through soil which is placed in a pot and watered. However, when soil is disturbed by digging, its characteristics may change.

Another way, to get a more reliable result, is to use an empty tin can. With both the top and bottom removed it forms a parallel sided tube which can be pushed into the soil to remove a relatively undisturbed sample.

Leave a little room at the top to hold water, add some to see how it drains and then saturate the soil and add some more water to the top. You will often note slower drainage on saturated soil.

Soil nutrition is (to some extent) indicated by the vigour of plants growing in a soil.

Soil structure usually changes from the surface of the soil as you move deeper down into the earth. One reason for this is that surface soil usually contains more organic matter than deeper soil. Surface layers frequently drain better.

The drainage rate decreases as you get deeper. This natural change means that water moves quickly away from the surface of soil but slows down its rate of flow as you get deeper. Bad cultivation procedures in soil can damage this characteristic of a gradation in soil structure through the soil profile by destroying the structure at the surface.

Such a situation can be very bad.

The improvement of soil structure may use two approaches. First, where the soil has not been badly leached, the addition of organic material, use of crop rotations (with legume cover crops to fix nitrogen) and proper (not excessive) cultivation, will normally give the best long-term results.

However, where soils have been leached and have become very acid, or very alkaline, the use of soil ameliorants such as lime and gypsum may be required. These act, not only to adjust soil pH (see PLANT NUTRITION) but replace sodium ions in the soil with others (principally calcium and magnesium).

These help to flocculate clay particles and so produce some initial structure which will allow the soil to be worked as above.

There are several ways to improve soils, and these include:

• Adding sand to clay soils to improve drainage.

• Adding clay or organic material to sandy soil to improve its ability to hold water.

• Adding organic matter, while improving water holding capacity, will not affect drainage to the same degree as the addition of clay will.

• Adding sand or organic matter will help break up a clay soil, making cultivation easier. However, the two will act on the soil in different ways.

• Adding organic matter will usually improve the nutritional status of the soil.

• Use of soil ameliorants – lime, gypsum, sulphates etc.

• Crop rotations and correct cultivation.

COMPOSTING

Any organic material, if left long enough will eventually rot down due to the action of microorganisms. Composting is simply a way to harness (control) this process, speed up the rate of decomposition, and minimise nutrient loss due to the process.

Assessment

How our courses work

FAQ

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.

What's Included

What your tuition fees include

All Course Material via Online, USB or Correspondence
Assignments Marked
Professional Tutor Feedback
Set Tasks - Practical Exercises to help you develop skills
Self-Tests – multiple choice questions at the end of lessons in most modules
Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
All ADL Exam or Project fees (exception RHS exams)
Qualification Certificate
Official Transcript with assignment grades
Student Manual

Plus FREE

Academic Writing course (optional - 10 hours only)
Critical Thinking course (optional - 10 hours only)
Job Seekers Careers Guide
Study Tips on How To Study Better
Career Counselling by ADL Staff
CV Writing Help, Tips and Advice

Call us: +44 (0)1227 789 649 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Horticulture I (Foundations)