• Do you have a passion to Manage a Garden Centre?
• Can you manage staff and inspire your customers?
• Then start here and get the inside information on how to run the best garden centre in town!

There are 12 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction: Plant classification, plant cultural requirements, soil and nutrition, watering requirements, drainage, temperature, light, humidity.
2. Plant Health: How to diagnose a problem, pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, frost, sunburn, chemical damage, insufficient light, overwatering.
3. Stock Maintenance: Quality standards, buying new stock, inspecting stock, extending stock life, disposing of below-standard stock, watering techniques, fertilising, pest and disease control.
4. Display and Display Techniques: Display units, product location, sales area layout.
5. Garden Product Knowledge I: Plant containers, tags, soil mixes, equipment, tools.
6. Garden Product Knowledge II: Chemicals, fertilisers, baskets, terrariums, cut flowers.
7. Indoor Plants: Major groups, common problems, plants for specific situations, customer attitudes.
8. Container Stock: Trees and Shrubs.
9. Seedlings, Bulbs, Herbs and Perennials.
10. Deciduous Trees, Fruit, Nuts, Berries.
    
11. Marketing: Pricing strategy, advertising, promotions.
12. Management: Staff control, staff productivity, work scheduling.

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.

• Classify and identify a range of different plants, according to their botanical characteristics.
• Describe a range of plant health problems and their treatments.
• Understand the importance of maintaining healthy stock and its relationship to maintaining a profitable business.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of garden products sold through garden centres.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of plants, including indoor plants, container-grown plants, deciduous plants, bulbs, herbs and perennials.
• Describe effective marketing techniques.
• Demonstrate knowledge of management proce

• Undertake simple and relevant practical tasks.
• Submit written assignments at the completion of each lesson.
• Prepare 72 plant review worksheets.
• Research and analyse the operation of garden centres and nurseries.