Landscapers enjoy an active, outdoor career with the potential to build financially rewarding businesses. Whether you’re a hobby gardener or a landscape professional, this comprehensive landscaping course will take your expertise to the next level.
The Advanced Certificate of Landscaping is an online landscaping course that will help ambitious landscapers to take the next step in their career or business service offering.
Throughout this landscaping course, you will learn various methods to expand on landscape design knowledge with an emphasis on landscape planning and project management. You’ll also discover a range of design principles that ensure various gardens meet aesthetic criteria for planting design.
You will also learn how to select a range of plants, from bulbs to trees, to suit different conditions and for impact on microclimates on design. You’ll discover the latest technological advances in landscape design, how to incorporate lighting, walls, fencing, paths, and paving seamlessly into the design plan and confidently create many different types of gardens. Plus, learn the critical planning and project management aspects of professional landscaping.
On completion of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of landscape design to develop a landscaping plan that exceeds client expectations.
Course Structure
Unit - Landscaping II
Unit 1 – The garden environment
- The ecosystem
- Microclimates
- Why do you want in a garden?
- Components of a garden
- Landscaping with water
- Establishing a water garden
- Choosing the construction method
- Making a pool with a liner
- Other types of water gardens
- Water garden effects
- Creating a waterfall
- Formal and informal waterfalls
- Cascades
- Plants for water gardens
Unit 2 – Landscape materials
- Tools
- What tool should be used for what job?
- Garden Construction/Installation
- Garden safety
- Tool maintenance
- Garden clothes
- Construction materials
- Concrete and cement types
- How to mix concrete and mortar
- Reinforcing, rodding, expansion joints
- Gravel and mulched paths
- Outdoor furniture
- Timber: types, stains, paints, preservatives
- Plastics, metal, upholstery
- Furniture design
Unit 3 – Using Bulbs, annuals and other low growing plants
- Annuals
- Scented annuals
- Coloured foliage
- Flower bed layout
- Types of plants
- Bedding schemes
- Selecting annuals according to height
- Annuals in containers
- Popular bulbs
- Scented bulbs
- Amaryllis
- Gladioli
- Narcissus
- Dahlia
- Hyacinth
- Iris
- Ranunculus
- Using Herbs
- Types of herb gardens
Unit 4 – Landscaping with trees
- Knowledge of trees in landscaping situations
- Successions
- Fast growing trees
- Choosing plants
- Trees in the landscape
- Why plant trees?
- Problems with trees
- Plant applications for trees, shrubs, ground covers
- Trees with damaging roots
- Trees with narrow canopies
- Aesthetic criteria for planting design
- Procedure and steps for planting design
- Climate considerations
Unit 5 – Ground cover plants
- Ground covers: conifers, climbers, creepers
- Ornamental grasses
- Low grasses to grow
- Australian native groundcovers
- How to build raised beds
- Grevilleas
- Thryptomene
- Brachysema
- Chorizema
- Hardenbergia
- Kennedya
- Commonly used herbs
- Landscaping with ferns
Unit 6 – Walls and fences
- Getting the style right
- Different fences
- Timber and picket
- Metal fencing
- Brick or stone fences
- Plants to grow on trellis
- Espaliers
- Garden arches
- What will an arch do for your garden?
- Choosing the rich arch
- Timber and metal arches
Unit 7 – Paths and paving
- Where to use surfacing
- Paving: different types of materials
- Selecting materials
- Concrete
- Gravel
- Asphalt
- Edging
- Edging materials
- Maintaining an edge
- Aesthetics
Unit 8 – Treating slopes and Other problem areas
- Erosion control
- Helping plants get establish
- Drip irrigation
- Mulches
- Types of tree guards
- Techniques for planting sloped areas
- Pocket planting, slope serration, wattling and spray seeding
- Shade
- Plants suited to shade
- Ferns and shade
- Windbreaks, hedges and screens
- Long narrow areas
- Gardening in coastal areas
- Design and planting a firebreak
- Fire resistant plants
- Plants more likely to burn
- plants with some degree of fire resistance
Unit 9 – Garden features
- Colours creating atmosphere
- Complementing colours
- Outdoor living areas: Patios, seating
- Garden structures and pool areas
- Rockeries
- Drystone walls and wet walls
- Garden buildings and structures
- Siting garden buildings
- Deciding on building to buy
- What to do with the floor
- Planting around a garden building
- Protective structures
- Types of greenhouses
- Decorative planters
- Choosing and siting a planter
- Garden lighting
- Lighting trees, paths and ponds
- Letterboxes
Unit 10 – Designing for low maintenance
- The cost of garden maintenance
- Cost, tools and equipment and manpower
- Expensive areas to maintain
- Less expensive to maintain areas
- Gardening in dry areas
- Overcoming dry soils hints for dry sandy soils
- Drought tolerant plants
- Plants for dry places
- Perennials suited to drier soils
- Deciduous trees suited to hot dry
- Hardy plants for inner city gardens
- Resistant plants for urban areas
- Indoor plants for air conditioned buildings
Unit 11 – Developing a landscape plan
- The site planning process
- Site analysis
- Design concept
- Master plan
- Keeping it to scale
- Techniques for keeping in scale
- The importance of space
- Features for small gardens
Unit 12 – Management of landscape projects
- Mistakes to avoid
- Earthmoving
- Moving existing soil
- What tools are needed
- Importing soil
- Shaping sloping ground
- What type of earth is useful
- Soil blends
- How clean is the soil?
- Why does soil cost so much?
- Workplace safety
- Safety around water
- Safety for general work tasks
- Using ladders
Unit - Landscaping III
Creating the Mood
Active vs Passive
Simple vs. complex
Movement vs. Static
Light vs. Shade
Managing Light and Shade
Increasing or Reducing Light
Plants that Thrive in Shade
Garden Lighting
Other Factors that Affect Mood
What Do You Want in a Garden
Personality in the Garden
Keeping it in Scale
Colour and the Garden
Using Coloured Statuary
Other Coloured Surfaces
Psychological Effects of Colours
Water in the Garden
Hot Plants
Making a Garden Appear Cooler
Site Analysis
Macro Design
Designing a Garden Room
Historic Gardens
Introduction
Roman Gardens
Chinese Gardens
Landscape Designers
Historic Considerations
Other Types of Gardens; formal, informal, natural, resort, permaculture, herb, rose, cottage
Cottage Garden Design
Cottage Garden Features
Plants in a Cottage Garden
Federation Gardens
Edwardian Gardens
Formal Gardens
Introduction
Design Elements of Formal Gardens
Types of Formal Garden; Avenue, hedged beds, etc
Planting in Formal Gardens
Traditional Ornamentation; Sundials, Weather vanes, Bird Baths
Traditional Furniture; seats, pots, arbors, arches, gazebos
Formal Courtyards
Oriental Gardens
Introduction
Chinese Gardens
Japanese Gardens
Types of Japanese Gardens: Hill and Pond, Dry Landscape, Tea Garden, Stroll Garden, Courtyard, Classic Rock Garden
Japanese Garden Features; Tori, Shishi-odishi, Moss Garden, Bamboo Fence, Bridges
Bonsai
Ornamental Grasses
Middle Eastern and Spanish Style
Introduction
Features of Moorish Gardens
Sense of Enclosure
Mexican Style
Mexican Planting Schemes
Use of Coloured Gravel
Mediterranean Gardens
Introduction
Features of Mediterranean Gardens
Regional Differences
Colours
Built Landscape
Plant Material
Use of Paint
Veranda Gardens
Making the Most of Small Spaces
Microclimates
Coastal Gardens
Coastal Garden Features
Temperature, Humidity and Wind
Windbreaks
Salt and Soil Conditions
Coastal Plants
Modern Gardens
Introduction
Technology in the garden; screens, lights, water features, music
Maintenance
Architecture; shapes and angles, colour, sculpture
Courtyards
Inner City Gardens
Types of Inner City Gardens
Future Trends
Eclectic Gardens
Creating an Eclectic Garden
Using Garden Ornaments in an Eclectic Garden
Plants
Living Art
Topiary
Hedges
Pleaching
Miniature Gardens
Trough Gardens
Pebble Gardens
Art Gardens
Public Gardens
Other Styles
Dryland Gardens
The Desert Landscape
Xeriscapes
Australian Bush Garden
Cacti and Succulent Gardens
Minimalist Landscapes
Permaculture
Rainforest Gardens
Tropical Style Gardens
Bird Attracting Gardens
Bulb Gardens
Study Hours
Estimated duration 100 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Add to Cart/View Cart on the course page.
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Landscaper
- Gardener
- Landscape designer
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