Lesson Structure:    Diploma In Garden Design VHT012

There are 30 lessons in this specialists course:

1. Introduction to Landscaping
2. Plant Identification
3. History of Gardening
4. Drawing Plans
5. Soils & Nutrition
6. Understanding the Environment
7. Earthworks & Surveying
8. Basic Landscape Construction
9. Surfacings
10. Garden Structures
11. Park Design
12. Home Garden Design
13. Costing & Specifications
14. Trail Design
15. Tools & Machinery
16. Plant Establishment Techniques
17. Ponds & Pools
18. Rockwork & Masonry
19. Lawn Construction Techniques
20. Irrigation Design & Installation
21. Bush Garden Design
22. Cottage Garden Design
23. Playground Design
24. Garden Bed Design
25. Management
26. Land Rehabilitation
27. Drainage
28. Maintenance
29. Dealing with Clients
30. Major Design Project

Learning Goals:  Diploma In Garden Design VHT01

• Discuss the principles Garden Design.
• Develop a foundation for systematic identification of plants and systematic determination of cultural requirements.
• Develop an awareness of different styles of gardening, principally through the study of the history of gardening.
• Develop the basic skills of landscape drawing as well as developing a basic understanding of contracts and specifications.
• Identify soil conditions appropriate for a garden design.
• Identify and properly account for environmental conditions within a garden design.
• Determine earthworks required for a garden design.
• Consider the relationship between design and construction when designing a garden.
• Determine appropriate surfacing for different gardens
• Determine appropriate garden structures for a garden.
• Evaluate the functionality of a park design.
• Evaluate the design of a home garden.
• Develop an appreciation for the impact that design can have on the cost of a garden.
• Discuss the functionality and design of surfaced areas in a garden or park, including paths, trails and sporting facilities.
• Discuss the scope and nature of tools used to landscape gardens.
• Discuss ways that plants may be better established.
• Discuss the design of water gardens
• Discuss the use of Rock, Stone, Brick and Concrete in garden designs.
• Discuss the appropriate use of lawns in garden designs.
• Discuss the appropriate use of irrigation in garden designs
• Discuss the design of natural gardens.
• Discuss the design of cottage gardens.
• Discuss the design of children’s play areas.
• Discuss the design of garden beds.
• Identify Management skills required to be a commercially viable garden designer.
• Explain methods of rehabilitation of degraded landscapes.
• Explain methods of dealing with drainage problems in a garden design
• Discuss the relationship between garden design and maintenance.
• Explain how a garden designer should successfully deal with clients.
• Prepare a significant garden design.

Practical – (Set Tasks) –  Garden Design Diploma VHT012

• Find a site to be landscaped. (It could be a park or home garden; it could be a new development or a redevelopment of an older garden).  Visit the site and record pre-planning information required to design the landscape.
• Find five examples of the use of landscape principles.  Using sketches and written descriptions,  describe the way the garden has been laid out in order to achieve those particular effects.
• Find gardens which represent three different styles.  Submit a photograph or sketch plan of each along with a half page written description of the style of the garden. Explain any historical  influences, including the influence of those who build to own the garden. The gardens may be gardens you have visited or can be gardens you have seen in a magazine or book.
• Copy the drawings of symbols (ie. drawings that show you how to represent plants, walls, rocks, etc. when you draw plans). Practice drawing these various components of a landscape.
• Using the pre-planning information collected, produce a design for that area. or part of that area.
• Take a soil sample and attempt to name it using the test given.
• Obtain components of potting or soil mixes; make up different mixes and test their characteristics.
• Survey an area requiring earthmoving. Draw a plan of the area, to scale, showing the area to be excavated. Calculate the volume of earth to be removed.  Calculate where it is to be put.
• Find, observe & report on some bad landscape construction work. (You might discuss a poor rockery, a wall which is falling over, or some playground equipment which is unsafe.)
• Find three examples of bad selection of surfaces in a landscape (ie. home garden, park, sports oval, tennis court or whatever). Describe the material used and explain why they are bad.Consider both the aesthetic and functional qualities of the surfacing.
• Develop a redevelopment plan for an existing park. Submit a photograph of the park as it exists at the moment (otherwise submit a rough sketch).  Prepare a design for redevelopment in line with the suggested changes.
• Choose an established home garden (your own or a friends), and draw a sketch plan as the garden exists. Explain how well do you think this garden is designed?
• Find another home garden, needing either a new design or redevelopment. Prepare four rough sketches showing the stages you would go through in designing or redesigning that particular garden.
• Develop a detailed explanation of how you prepared your costing in the set task. Show the various  components of the costing and explain how and why you costed it this way rather than higher  or lower.
• Design a trail.  It can be any type of trail (fun & fitness, nature, history, etc.) and may be located  anywhere (a street, park, home garden, etc).
• Find and visit some recently landscaped gardens (completed within the last 4 months). Visit up to three different properties. Take note of any problems with the maintenance.  Consider what could have been done to prevent these problems occurring.
• Design a perennial border along the front wall of a brick house
• Prepare a plan for the establishment of a large number of trees in a degraded area. This plan should cover at least 5 years. You should indicate clearly what the problem is and how you are going to use the trees to help rehabilitate the area.
• Design a water feature (eg. a pond or creek bed) for a bush or natural garden.  Submit plans and a step by step description showing how you would construct such a water feature.
• Design a rockery area for a bush garden.
• Design a bush garden using mainly ferns, for a small courtyard of specified dimensions

How to Use Space:  Make Small Garden Look Bigger!

Using Space

Rather than having a single area in which every plant and feature can be seen with one glance, try breaking up the space into a series of areas or garden ‘rooms’. If your garden area is too small to divide up into several areas, remember that even two small areas create more interest in the garden than one larger area.

Each area or room should be distinctly defined from the other areas by partial enclosure, using plants or structures such as pergolas, or by a change in landscaping materials.

For example, immediately outside the back door you could have a paved outdoor entertainment area, which leads on to a lawn surrounded by gently curving garden beds, which then leads on to a pond surrounded by water plants, and so on.

Each area has a distinct character which draws the viewer from one area to the next to see what lies beyond.

The divisions between each area need only be subtle, otherwise you’ll end up with an even more boxed in feeling than you started with. A low hedge, a lattice screen, a small change of level, or even just a sweep or curve in the bed are sufficient for separating and linking one area to the next.

Making a Small Garden Look Larger

Some small gardens make you feel hemmed in, even claustrophobic. Other gardens, although no larger, are full of interest, giving a sense of space and freedom. How do they do it?

Below are some tricks used by professional landscape designers to enhance the feeling of space in the garden.

When designing the beds and paths, avoid using too many straight lines as they tend to create strong boundaries that make spaces appear smaller. Curved lines (even slight ones) can help increase the feel of spaciousness.

Construct paths so that they narrow slightly as they progress away from main viewing locations, such as verandas or where you sit in the garden. This makes an optical illusion of increased distance.

Smooth surfaces and small fine textured landscaping materials will make the area seem larger. For example, if the area is paved or pebbled use small sized pavers and small diameter pebbles.

If you use mulch on your beds use a mulch with small particle size, such as rice hulls or fine milled pine bark, rather than coarse pine bark or large-sized wood chips.

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.