RHS Cert. II - Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment & Ma

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RHS Cert. II - Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment & Ma

Academy for Distance Learning
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Description

This course is an excellent starting point to employment in professional horticulture by assessing knowledge of the scientific principles underpinning horticultural practices. The course also supports career development for those already working in the profession. It also provides a foundation for further learning or training in the field of horticulture. There are no prerequisites required for entry into this course.

There are 10 lessons here, spread across 4 units:

Unit 1 – Garden features, plant selection and planning.
Unit 2 – The choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns.
Unit 3 – The production of outdoor vegetables and fruit.
Unit 4 ‚Äì Protected environmen…

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Didn't find what you were looking for? See also: Garden Design, Planning, Leisure, Landscape, and Palliative Care.

This course is an excellent starting point to employment in professional horticulture by assessing knowledge of the scientific principles underpinning horticultural practices. The course also supports career development for those already working in the profession. It also provides a foundation for further learning or training in the field of horticulture. There are no prerequisites required for entry into this course.

There are 10 lessons here, spread across 4 units:

Unit 1 – Garden features, plant selection and planning.
Unit 2 – The choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns.
Unit 3 – The production of outdoor vegetables and fruit.
Unit 4 – Protected environments and their use in plant cultivation.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this certificate

Duration: 100 hours

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Principles of Garden Design
  2. Conducting Garden Surveys and Planning
  3. Use of Hard Garden Features and Hard Surfaces
  4. Use of Soft Garden Features
  5. Plant Establishment and Maintenance
  6. Pruning
  7. Lawns; Establishment and Maintenance
  8. Outdoor Food Production; Vegetables
  9. Outdoor Food Production; Fruit
  10. Protected Cultivation


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.


Aims

  • Develop an understanding of: design principles and how to apply them; basic surveying; garden features, plant selection; garden planning.
  • Develop an understanding of plant selection, establishment and maintenance of a range of ornamental plants and lawns.
  • Develop an understanding of basic cultural operations and production methods for outdoor vegetable and fruit crops.
  • Develop an understanding of: environmental controls, uses and appropriate applications of greenhouses and other protected plant growing structures; the production of a range of plants in protected structures and the care of plants in the house and conservatory.


Contents of Each Lesson

The 10 lessons cover topics as outlined:

1. Principles of Garden Design

  • Introduction
  • Landscape Principles (Unity, Balance, Proportion, Harmony, Contrast, Rythm)
  • Design Elements (Line, Form, Mass, Space, Texture, Colour, Tone)
  • Landscape Effects
  • Colour in Garden Design
  • Formal Gardens
  • Informal Gardens
  • Cottage Gardens
  • Minimalist Gardens
  • Natural Landscapes
  • Oriental Gardens
  • Mediterranean Gardens
  • Tropical Gardens
  • Plant Identification, Culture and Use -Reviewing a range of plants

2. Conducting Garden Surveys and Planning

  • Appraising a Site and Collecting Data for Planning
  • Components of the Pre Planning Phase
  • Use of Hard Garden Features and Hard Surfaces
  • Scale for Landscape Plans
  • Triangulation
  • Surveying Slope
  • Direct Contouring
  • The Grid System
  • Levelling Terminology and Procedure
  • The site Plan
  • Concept Plan
  • Final Plan
  • Other Plans
  • Design Procedure
  • Landscape Graphics
  • Putting Pen to Paper
  • Lettering and Graphics

3. Use of Hard Landscaping Features

  • Hard and Soft Landscaping
  • Surfaces in the Garden
  • Paving
  • Using Pebbles
  • Rockeries
  • Mulching and Erosion Matting
  • Barriers and Walls
  • Trellis
  • Types of Fencing
  • Patios
  • Seating
  • Garden Structures
  • Garden Art, Features and Furnishings
  • Pools, Ponds and Water Gardens
  • Environmental Sustainability

4. Use of Soft Garden Features

  • Choosing Plants
  • Purchasing Plants
  • Trees in the Landscape (Deciduous, Semi Deciduous, Evergreen)
  • Shrubs
  • Perennials and Herbs
  • Types of Herb Gardens
  • Wildflower Meadows
  • Perennial Displays
  • Annuals
  • Flower Bed Design
  • Cottage Gardens
  • Scented Plants
  • Climbers and Growing plants on Trellis
  • Lawns and Turf varieties

5. Plant Establishment and Maintenance

  • Plants in the Landscape
  • Plant Selection
  • Environmental Factors
  • Improving Environmental Conditions
  • Selecting the Right Plant
  • Which Plant to Buy
  • Understanding Soils and Fertility
  • Plant Nutrition
  • Preparing a Garden
  • Transplanting Techniques
  • Fertilising and Staking
  • Planting Bare Rooted Plants
  • Time of Planting
  • Planting Mistakes to Avoid
  • Gardening in Dry Areas
  • Colourful Year Round Foliage
  • Establishing Annual and Herbaceous Plants
  • Seed
  • Selecting Herbaceous Plants and Bulbs
  • Dividing and Separating Perennials
  • Herbaceous Borders
  • Maximising Flower Displays
  • Selecting Woody Plants
  • Trees and Tree Health
  • Selecting Flowering Shrubs
  • Hedges
  • Climbers
  • Water Plants and Pond Management
  • Plant Health
  • Weed Management

6. Pruning

  • What, Where and Why Prune
  • Removing Dead and Diseased Wood
  • Controlling Type of Growth
  • Distinguishing between Bud Types
  • Controlling Shape and Size
  • Pruning to Rejuvinate a Plant
  • Winter Pruning
  • How to Prune
  • Pruning Different Specific Plant Genera
  • Espaliers
  • Dead Heading
  • Tree Pruning
  • Stopping, Disbudding, Root Pruning, Dead heading etc.

7. Lawns; Establishment and Maintenance

  • Turf Establishment
  • Soil Preparation
  • Seeding, Stolonising, Sodding, Sprigging, Plugging
  • Mowers and Mowing Turf
  • Fertilising Turf
  • Renovation: aeration, scarification, top dressing etc

8. Outdoor Food Production; Vegetables

  • Introduction to Growing Outdoor Food Crops
  • Growing Techniques for Vegetables
  • Planning a Crop
  • Starting a Vegetable Garden
  • Managing the Crop (Weed Control, Pests, Water etc)
  • Special Techniques: No Dig, Green Manure, Cover Crops, Compost etc)
  • Sustainable Cultivation Techniques
  • Planting Techniques
  • Review of major Vegetable Crops
  • Managing Water and Irrigation

9. Outdoor Food Production; Fruit

  • Choosing a Site and Establishing an Orchard
  • Location, Climate, Rainfall and other Site Considerations
  • Deciding what to Grow
  • Scope of Fruit Growing
  • Pest and Disease Management on Fruit -Chemical and Non Chemical
  • Environmental Problems and their Management
  • Pruning Fruit Trees
  • Pollination
  • Review of Sigificant types of Fruits, Berries and Citrus
  • Developing a Production Plan

10. Protected Cultivation

  • Introduction to Protected Growing
  • Types of Growing Structures
  • Factors Affecting Light Transmission in Growing Structures
  • Management of Greenhouses: Benches, Hygeine, Watering, Temperature Control etc
  • Shade Houses
  • Computerised Environmental Control
  • Heating Systems
  • Controlling Light
  • Irrigation & Nutrition Control
  • Feeding Plants
  • Pest and Disease Control in Greenhouses
  • Containers for Growing in
  • Potting Media
  • Indoor Plants and their Management


To obtain the certificate, awarded by the RHS in England, the student needs to sit and pass written exams conducted under supervision, and assessed by the RHS. Exams can be arranged to be sat anywhere in the world.

Exams are offered twice annually; in February and June. A separate fee applies for exams; set by and paid to the RHS.

Examination Fees:

There are four (4) exam fees Understanding garden features, plant selection and planning £12

Understanding the choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns

£10 Understanding the production of outdoor vegetables and fruit £10 Understanding protected environments and their use in plant cultivation £10 Examination dates for February 2011 Understanding garden features, plant selection and planning 15 February 2011@ 9:30 ‚Äì 10:20 Understanding the choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns 15 February 2011@ 11:00 ‚Äì 11:30 Understanding the production of outdoor vegetables and fruit 15 February 2011@ 13:30 ‚Äì 14:00 Understanding protected environments and their use in plant cultivation 15 February 2011@ 14:.30 ‚Äì 15:00 Closing date for Entries: 30 November 2010 Examination dates for June 2011 Understanding garden features, plant selection and planning 28 June 2011 @ 9:30 ‚Äì 10:20 Understanding the choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns 28 June 2011 @ 11:00 ‚Äì 11:30 Understanding the production of outdoor vegetables and fruit 28 June 2011 @ 13:30 ‚Äì 14:00 Understanding protected environments and their use in plant cultivation 28 June 2011 @ 14:30 ‚Äì 15:00 Closing date for Entries 6 May 2011

A network of exam centres are located across the UK for students located in the UK.
For students located elsewhere; a provision is made for exams to be conducted under arrangements for exceptional supervision.
This is one of several new RHS Qualifications being phased in to replace older courses over the second half of 2010.

This course provides a route to employment in professional horticulture by assessing knowledge of the scientific principles and underpinning horticultural practices, and supports career development for those already working in the profession. It also provides a foundation for further learning or training in the field of horticulture.

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