Can you learn the practical side of horticulture by distance education?  This course is the ANSWER! It really does work, particularly if done online, or on CD, where you can make full use of interactive learning tasks and coloured photography on the computer. This course has been written to satisfy curriculum developed by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK (Advanced Certificate and Diploma level) It will give you a great background to start your career or to enhance your current skills.

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Soil Analysis
2. Seed Propagation (including seed identification)
3. Vegetative Propagation
4. Potting up and After Care of young plants
5. Planting
6. Maintenance of Established Plants
7. Practical Plant Identification
8. Pest and Disease Identification
9. Weed Identification
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.

To learn how to enrol click here

• Test soils to determine characteristics which would be valuable to management of any given soil in a horticultural situation
• Identify sandy loam, silty loam, and clay loam soils by feel; and pH testing by soil indicator; and relate to plant selection
• Identify and sow a range of different types of seeds, in different situations, in a way that will optimise successful propagation.
• Propagate a range of plants using different vegetative propagation techniques
• Pot up and provide after care for a range of propagated seedlings and cuttings.
• Plant a range of (different types) plant material.
• Maintain the desired growth type and habit for a range of plants.
• Identify significant woody plants including: Trees; Shrubs; Groundcover; & Conifers
• Identify a range of significant plant problems including pests, diseases and others.
• Identify a range of non woody and indoor plants of horticultural significance.
• Conduct a risk assessment of a horticultural workplace to determine safe working practices and select appropriate personal safety clothing and equipment.