Are you selecting the best plants for the job? Develop a firm basis for the selection, establishment and maintenance of a range of commonly used garden plants. There is more than meets the eye when selecting plants and establishing them successfully. Learn more so that you can create the best reputation for eye catching gardens.

"It's interesting how much difference the correct establishment of plants can make to the long term health of a garden. Learn how to get it right the first time with this course." - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming

There are 10 lessons in this course:

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

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.

• Develop knowledge of the range of applications for and selection and establishment of horticultural plants.
• Develop knowledge in the establishment and maintenance of a range of woody plants, with different modes of growth, for different situations
• Develop knowledge in selection, establishment, and maintenance of species suitable for hedges windbreaks and screens.
• Describe the cultivation of alpine and water plants.
• Describe the selection, cultivation, and maintenance of herbaceous plants.
• Explain the selection, establishment and maintenance of turf and lawns.
• Explain the maintenance and cultural requirements of herbaceous, woody, and other plants.
• Consider the different pest and disease control implications resulting from the choice of different plant varieties.
• Determine pest and disease control requirements for a new garden.
• Explain the control of weeds in a garden.
• Explain the implications upon weed management that result from selection of particular plants for use in a garden.
• Manage establishment and maintenance of plants in a way that minimizes safety risks to people working in or visiting a garden.

• This course involves far more than just reading and answering questions. Here are just some examples of other things which you might be doing:
• Visiting different gardens, nurseries and/or parks. These could include home gardens, parks, commercial or any other type of site. The choice is yours.
• If for some reason (eg. Disability or isolation) you are unable to physically visit gardens or other places, you may undertake a "virtual visit" using the internet; and liaise via email.
• Survey or interview industry people.
• Analyse and devise maintenance plants for different areas.
• Research the cause of an incident.
• Prepare a weed collection of either pressings, photographs or illustrations.