Garden Centre Management BHT213

Achieve excellence in your garden centre.! Designed in 1986, in conjunction with the state garden department manager of a major retail chain store; this course has been very successful in training both staff and managers of retail nurseries and garden centres across Australia and beyond. It was thoroughly updated recently by horticultural professionals in both Australia and the U.K. to be relevant to countries around the world. Course Structure The course is divided into 12 lessons as follows:

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. Seed.
11. Marketing: Pricing strategy, advertising, promotions.
12. Management: Staff control, staff productivity, work scheduling.

Learning Outcomes At the completion of this course you should be able to:

• 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 procedures.

What you will do in this Course

• Read the supplied course material.
• 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.