Qualification -DIPLOMA IN LANDSCAPING VHT021

I want to be a professional landscape garden designer.
 
This course will help you to become an Outstanding Garden Designer!
  • Part Artist
  • Part Scientist/
  • Part Builder/Engineer
  • Part Manager or Businessman

Extensive training for an exceptional career a landscape contractor or garden designer. An experiential learning program incorporating lots of practical experience together with sound training in foundation knowledge required for a successful and sustained career. Learn to design all types of landscapes, manage projects and to adapt and confront new problems as they arise.
Duration: 2100 hours (2 to 3 years full time study or equivalent at your own pace)

Become a Landscape Professional

This course is unique in so many ways. It is solidly industry based, designed and delivered by people who are not only qualified and extensively experienced as garden designers, but who provide very personal guidance to each student. Unlike a classroom -you are not sharing a tutor with 20 or 30 other students. Your tutors give you their undivided attention, mentoring you step by step as you progress through your studies.

Course Structure:
This course is made of 21 modules -19 compulsory modules, plus two elective modules.

Module 1. Landscaping I

The ten lessons are as follows:

  1. Basic Design Procedure A. - collecting pre-planning information, landscape elements, principles, etc.
  2. History of Gardening ‑ garden styles and themes, famous designers, garden influences.
  3. Draughting & Contracting - drawing techniques, specifications, details.
  4. Basic Landscape Construction - timber, steps, retainer walls, pathways, play structures, etc.
  5. Surfacings - concrete, asphalt, gravels, mulches, grasses, gradients, etc.
  6. Furnishings & Features - chairs, statues, figurines, birdbaths, skateboards, safety, etc.
  7. Park Design A - good/bad park design characteristics, recreational landscaping.
  8. Home Garden design - good/bad garden design characteristics.
  9. Design Procedure B - development of concept plans and detailed planting plans.
  10. Park Design B - development of park design, fun & fitness trails.
Module 2. Horticulture I
There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:
  1. Plant Identification
  2. Planting
  3. Soils
  4. Nutrition
  5. Water Management
  6. Pruning
  7. Weeds
  8. Pests and Diseases
  9. Landscaping
  10. Propagation
  11. Lawns
  12. Arboriculture

Module 3. Landscaping II
There are twelve lessons in this subject as follows:

  1. The Garden Environment
  2. Landscape Materials
  3. Using Bulbs and Annuals
  4. Landscaping with Trees
  5. Ground Cover Plants
  6. Walls and Fences
  7. Paths and Paving
  8. Treatment of Slopes and Other Problem Areas
  9. Garden Features
  10. Designing for Low Maintenance
  11. Development of a Landscape Plan
  12. Management of Landscape Projects.

 

Module 4. Landscaping III (Landscape Styles)
There are 10 lessons in this module as follows:
  1. Creating the Mood
  2. Historic Gardens
  3. Formal Gardens
  4. Oriental Gardens
  5. Middle Eastern and Spanish Style
  6. Mediterranean Gardens
  7. Coastal Gardens
  8. Modern Gardens
  9. Eclectic Gardens
  10. Other Styles
Module 5. Plant Establishment and Selection
There are ten lessons as follows:
  1. Introduction
  2. Woody plants
  3. Windbreaks, hedges and screens
  4. Alpine and water plants
  5. Annual and herbaceous plants
  6. Turf
  7. Maintenance
  8. Pest and disease control
  9. Weed control
  10. Risk assessment
Module 6. Landscape Construction
There are ten lessons as follows:
  1. Tools and Machinery
  2. Landscape Plans and Setting out a Construction Site
  3. Drainage in Landscape Construction
  4. Earthworks
  5. Surfaces, Paths, Paving and Turf
  6. Construction of Garden Structures I
  7. Construction of Garden Structures II
  8. Irrigation Systems
  9. Establishing Hedges and Other Plants
  10. Workplace Safety and Management of Landscape Construction Work
Module 7. Horticulture II
There are ten lessons in this course plus one Special Assignment (see later for details). The content of each of the ten lessons is outlined below:
  1. The Groups of Plants 
  2. Use of Plants ‑ plant selection, soils.
  3. Australian Native Plants
  4. Exotic Ornamental Plants
  5. Indoor & Tropical Plants
  6. Bedding Plants
  7. Vegetables
  8. Fruits, Nuts & Berries
  9. Herbs
  10. Alternative Growing Technique

Module 8. Horticulture & Research I
The course contains seven lessons:

  1. Determining Research Needs
  2. Searching for Information
  3. Research Methods
  4. Using Statistics
  5. Conducting Statistical Research
  6. Research Reports
  7. Reporting on a Research Project
Module 9. Water Gardening
There are eight lessons as follows:
  1. Introduction: Scope & Nature of water features, water quality, plants & animals in water, etc.
  2. Construction
  3. Equipment: Pumps, Lights, Filters etc.
  4. Ponds, watercourses, bog gardens, dams –Design & Aftercare.
  5. Spas and Swimming Pools –Design & After care
  6. Water Features –Indoor & Outdoor –Fountains, Waterfalls, Fish tanks, ponds etc
  7. Water Plants
  8. Aquatic Animals
Module 10. Playground Design
There are eight lessons in this unit as follows:
  1. Overview of Parks & Playgrounds
  2. Playground Philosophy
  3. Preparing a Concept Plan
  4. Materials
  5. Park & Playground Structures and Materials
  6. Local and Neighbourhood Parks
  7. Community Participation In Park Development
  8. Special Assignment.
Module 11. Planning Layout and Construction of Ornamental Gardens
There are eight lessons in this unit as follows:
  1. Overview of Parks & Playgrounds
  2. Playground Philosophy
  3. Preparing a Concept Plan
  4. Materials
  5. Park & Playground Structures and Materials
  6. Local and Neighbourhood Parks
  7. Community Participation In Park Development
  8. Special Assignment.
Module 12. Cottage Garden Design
There are eight lessons as follows:
  1. Introduction To Cottage Gardens
  2. History Of Cottage Gardens
  3. Design Techniques and Drawing Plans
  4. Plants For Cottage Gardens
  5. Planting Design In Cottage Gardens
  6. Landscape Features and Components
  7. Cottage Gardens Today
  8. Special Assignment - Design Of A Complete Garden.

Module 13. Permaculture Systems

The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:
  1. Permaculture Principles
  2. Natural Systems
  3. Zone & Sector Planning
  4. Permaculture Techniques
  5. Animals in Permaculture
  6. Plants in Permaculture
  7. Appropriate Technologies
  8. Preparing a Permaculture Plan
Module 14. Horticultural Management
There are ten lessons in this course as follows:
  1. Horticultural Business Structures
  2. Management Theories and Procedures
  3. Horticulture & The Law
  4. Supervision
  5. Financial Management
  6. Staff Management
  7. Improving Plant Varieties
  8. Productivity and Risk
  9. Managing Physical Resources
  10. Developing an Horticultural Business Plan

Module 15. Natural Garden Design

There are 8 lessons in this course as follows:
  1. Introduction to Natural Gardens.
  2. History of Natural Gardens
  3. Developing Concept Plans
  4. Plants for Natural Gardens
  5. Planting Design in Natural Gardens
  6. Natural Garden Features
  7. Natural Gardens Today
  8. Bringing It All Together.

Module 16. Project Management

There are nine lessons as follows:
  1. Introduction
    Understanding what project management is, and what its applications might be.
  2. Project Identification
    Identification and defining projects which need management.
  3. Project Planning
    Developing a strategy and framework for the plan.
  4. Project Implementation
    Managers duties during implementation, developing a Preparation Control Chart,
    Regulating implementation.
  5. Project Completion & Evaluation
    Dangers in this stage, Steps in Project completion, Declaring a project sustainable,
    Developing an evaluation method.
  6. Technical Project Management Skills
    Preparing a proposal, budget control/management, steps in drawing up a
    post project appraisal.
  7. Leadership Skills
    Styles of leadership, leadership principles and methods.
  8. Improving Key Personnel Skills
    Listening skills, Negotiation skills, Conflict management.
  9. Major Assignment
    Developing full documentation for a project.

Module 17. Restoring Established Ornamental Gardens

There are 8 lessons in this module as follows:
  1. Landscape History & Design Styles
  2. Surveying the Site
  3. Assessment of Plantings and Features
  4. Selecting Components for Retention
  5. Work Programming and Risk Management
  6. Drainage
  7. Hard Landscape Feature Restoration
  8. Planting Restoration and Maintenance
Module 18. Horticulture & Research II
There are 7 lessons in this module as follows: 
  1. Identifying research issues and determining research priorities. 
  2. Acquisition of technical information 
  3. Specialised research techniques 
  4. Research planning and designing 
  5. Statistics 
  6. Conducting research 
  7. Writing reports

Module 19. Workshop I

This course uses PBL (problem-based learning) study projects to develop a "real world" relevance in your overall learning experience

There are 3 lessons in this module as follows:

1. Workplace Tools, Equipment and Materials: Identifying and describing the operation of tools and equipment used in the workplace; routine maintenance of tools and equipment; identifying and comparing materials used in the workplace; using different materials to perform workplace tasks.

2. Workplace Skills: Determining key practical skills in the workplace; identifying and comparing commonly-performed workplace tasks; determining acceptable standards for workplace tasks; implementing techniques for improving workplace efficiency.

3. Workplace Safety: Identifying health and safety risks in the workplace; complying with industry OH&S standards; developing safety guidelines for handling dangerous items

Modules 20 and 21.
plus two relevant electives from horticulture or another area of study of value to people working in landscaping.     For example … Advanced Permaculture; Irrigation – gardens; Trees for Rehabilitation; Horticultural Marketing; Plant Ecology; Conifers; Roses; Perennials; Australian Natives I; Tropical Plants; Photoshop; Starting a Small Business.