Qualification - ASSOCIATE DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE VHT008

I want a qualification in horticulture but don't want to specialise at this stage

 
This course provides a broad based foundation to allow you to adapt to and work in different sectors of the industry, as a technician, business owner, consultant, etc. This broadens your work opportunities in horticulture.

 

Expand you career opportunities with generalist horticultural training

Horticultural staff need to have a strong foundation in both science and plants. They need to know:

  • What affects plant growth (soils, nutrition, water, temperature, pests etc.)
  • Cultural Techniques (propagation, pruning, planting, shelter, etc.)
  • Plant Knowledge (plant family characteristics, classification system, etc.)

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C


 

Training to be a Professional Horticulturist

Plants are a cornerstone to our society.

Plants provide us with food, have a major impact upon our environment (e.g. Air quality, temperature, flood control etc), and provide places to play (sports grounds, children's playgrounds etc. These are only a few of the more obvious places we find horticulture.

Horticultural staff need to have a strong foundation in both science and plants. They need to know:

  • What affects plant growth (Soils, nutrition, water, temperature, pests etc)
  • Cultural Techniques (Propagation, pruning, planting, shelter, etc)
  • Plant Knowledge (Plant family characteristics, classification system, etc)

This course provides a broad based foundation to allow you to adapt to and work in different sectors of the industry, as a technician, business owner, consultant, etc.

Whatever is in vogue at different times throughout your career, this course will prepare you to move into and adapt to working in that part of the industry.

 

Course Manager

This course has been designed, and is managed by John Mason, our principal. Since graduating in horticultural science (1971), John has worked as a landscape designer, nurseryman, parks manager and research officer working with field crops, prior to establishing this school in 1979. Since then, apart from managing this school he has been editor of 4 national gardening magazines, written over 40 books and maintained a small practice as a horticultural consultant.

John has been made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture (UK) and the Parks and Leisure Institute (Australia).

 

Tutors

All teaching staff are highly qualified and experienced professional horticulturists. Most hold both degrees an post graduate qualifications. On average, their industry experience exceeds 20 years.

A unique aspect of this course (and others through ACS) is that tutors and course developers come from both northern and southern hemispheres, and from both warm and cool climates. The content and delivery of the course aims to prepare you to work in any climate, country or social situation. We consider this aim to be exceedingly important in a world that is changing so rapidly. We aim to provide a foundation that will serve you wherever you find yourself in the future.

 

Prerequisites:

Either Year 12 (passed), an acceptable certificate (e.g. Completed apprenticeship) or over 21 yrs of age.

 

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS

Stage 1 Core Studies

The following SIX modules are undertaken first as a foundation for further studies:

  • Horticulture I
  • Horticulture II
  • Horticulture III
  • Plant Selection & Establishment
  • Outdoor Plant Production
  • Garden Maintenance

Exemption is granted for this stage to anyone who has the following:

  • Any Certificate or Advanced Certificate from ACS
  • Horticultural studies of 600 hrs or more class contact duration from another approved institution (Approved institutions include universities, IARC recognized institutions, institutions with a teaching approach that have a strong emphasis upon foundation science and plant knowledge)

Note: Modules from either stages II & III may be undertaken after stage I is complete.

 

Stage II Electives

SIX modules chosen from the following:

  • Practical Horticulture I
  • Practical Horticulture II
  • Organic Plant Culture
  • Permaculture Systems
  • Advanced Permaculture
  • Engineering Applications
  • Plant Protection Machinery and Equipment (Engineering I)
  • Project Management
  • Horticultural Marketing
  • Amenity Horticulture I
  • Amenity Horticulture II
  • Turf Care
  • Sports Turf Management
  • Turf Repair and Renovation
  • Arboriculture I
  • Arboriculture II
  • Trees for Rehabilitation
  • Landscaping I, II, III
  • Planning Layout & Construction of Ornamental Gardens
  • Restoring Established Ornamental Gardens
  • Propagation I
  • Cutting Propagation
  • Wholesale Nursery Management
  • Garden Centre Management
  • Cut Flower Production
  • Cut Flower Bulbs
  • Cut Flower Orchids
  • Greenhouse Cut Flowers
  • Hydroponics I
  • Hydroponic Management
  • Commercial Vegetable Production
  • Protected Plant Production
  • Fruit Production
  • Viticulture
  • Berry Production
  • Herb Culture
  • Culinary Herbs
  • Medicinal Herbs
  • Australian Natives I
  • Tropical Plants
  • Cacti and Succulents
  • Perennials
  • Interior Plants
  • Water Conservation and Management
  • Irrigation
  • Irrigation Management

Other options may be considered, though the above are generally considered the better options for this particular course.

 

Stage III Compulsory Modules

The following should all be completed

  • Horticultural Resource Management
  • Horticultural Research I
  • Industry Meetings or Workshop I (Note: This can be completed without difficulty anywhere in the world).

 

OUTLINES OF KEY CORE MODULES

 

Horticulture I

There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:

1. Plant Identification: Naming plants; distinguishing the taxonomic divisions of plants including family, genus, species and variety or hybrid; identifying the different parts of a flower; distinguishing the morphological characteristics of leaves.

2. Planting: Planting methods used for different types of plants including annuals, perennials, evergreen and deciduous plants; influence of environmental factors on planting techniques.

3. Soils: Classifying soils; sampling and testing soils; chemical and physical properties of soils; soil improvement techniques; composting; potting mixes.

4. Nutrition: Major and micro elements necessary for plant growth; nutrient deficiencies and toxicities; fertilisers.

5. Water Management: Irrigation systems - characteristics, advantages and disadvantages; drainage systems; waterwise gardening.

6. Pruning: Pruning techniques; importance of pruning to growth, flowering and fruiting; pruning tools.

7. Weeds: Identifying common weeds; characteristics of weeds; control techniques; herbicides.

8. Pests and Diseases: Identifying common insect and disease problems; control methods; Integrated Pest Management; pesticides; hygiene procedures; chemical safety.

9. Landscaping: Stages of landscaping; design procedures; collating pre-planning information; preparing plans; selecting plants for specified sites.

10. Propagation: Asexual and sexual propagation; taking cuttings; sowing seeds; aftercare of propagated plants.

11. Lawns: Turf grass varieties; laying a new lawn; cultural techniques including watering, fertilizing, topdressing, aerating, pest and disease control.

12. Arboriculture: Tree management techniques including pruning, removal and tree surgery; identifying tree problems.

 

Horticulture II

The content of each of the ten lessons is outlined below:

1. The Groups of Plants ‑ Identification of plants from a wide range of taxonomic and cultural groups, using a range of different techniques.

2. Use of Plants ‑ plant selection, soils.

3. Australian Native Plants

To determine techniques for the growing of native shrubs and trees, including the selection, culture and use of different species.

4. Exotic Ornamental Plants

To determine techniques for the growing of exotic ornamental shrubs and trees, including the selection, culture and use of different species.

5. Indoor & Tropical Plants -growing of indoor plants, including selection, culture and use of different varieties

6. Bedding Plants - techniques for the growing of bedding plants, including selection, culture and use of different varieties.

7. Vegetables

Learn to develop techniques for the growing of edible crop plants, including selection, culture and use of vegetables, fruit, berries and nuts (Part A).

8. Fruits, Nuts & Berries

9. Herbs

10. Alternative Growing Techniques ‑ hydroponics, container growing, terrariums. Determine appropriate applications for a range of alternative growing methods

 

Horticulture III (Plant Health)

There are ten lessons in this module, as follows:

1. Introduction

2. Overview of Preventative Controls

3. Insecticides

4. Other Pesticides

5. Spray Equipment

6. Insect Biology

7. Fungal Biology

8. Environmental Problems

9. Viruses

10. Nematodes, Molluscs and Crustaceans

 

 

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Just go to the top of this page for pricing and enrolment options. If you have any questions you can contact us now, by:
Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

Email us at [email protected]