Certificate of Home Gardening

Unit 1 – Plant identification

• Plant names (common and scientific)
• Angiosperms, conifers and ferns
• Hybrid and variety
• What genus belongs to what family?
• How to plant
• Cold weather and the garden
• Plant selection criteria
• Aesthetic planting effects
• Planting techniques
• When to plant?
• Potting and mulching
• Garden tools
• Pruning trees and shrubs
• Orchard pruning

Unit 2 – Soil structure

• Understanding soils
• Soil texture and structure
• Different soils for different purposes
• Soil names
• Plant nutrients
• Major and minor elements
• Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities
• Feeding plants
• Organic fertilisers
• How good is your soil
• Improving soils
• Total salts and soil pH

Unit 3 – Plant Health

• Plant health problems
• Preventative medicine in the garden
• Identifying plant problems
• Companion planting
• Plant pests and diseases
• What is the problem?
• Controlling pests and diseases
• Common chemical terms
• Pest problems on plants
• Diseases
• Plant viruses – detection and diagnosis
• Using chemical sprays
• Identifying weeds
• How weeds spread
• Poisonous plants
• Herbicides (resistance and tolerance)
• Weed control and methods

Unit 4 – Garden styles

• Characteristics of garden styles
• History of gardening
• Landscape design
• Designing with plants and garden features
• Designing a garden
• Planning phases
• Creating user friendly gardens
• Using colour in the garden
• Where to put plants
• Garden rooms
• Hedges and mazes
• Landscaping materials
• Moving existing soil
• Using timber and rocks in the garden
• Drainage

Unit 5 – Introduction to propagation

• Propagating methods
• Growing plants from seed
• Vegetative propagation
• Propagation equipment
• Cold frames
• Characteristics of media (solid materials)
• The UC system of soil mixes
• Media pH
• Types of media
• Mixes for striking cuttings
• Propagation by seed and cuttings
• Sowing seeds
• Cutting propagation
• Cutting treatments
• Hormone and chemical treatments
• Transplanting between pots

Unit 6 – Introduction to Lawns

• Lawn shaping and design
• Establishing a new lawn
• Turf grass varieties
• Lawn maintenance and renovation
• Environmental problems
• Pests and diseases
• Fertilisation, watering and mowing turf

Unit 7 – Growing indoor plants

• Why do indoor plants die easily?
• Caring for indoor plants
• Growing plants in containers
• Growing plants in hydroponics
• Hydroponic systems
• Growing bonsai
• Greenhouses and shades
• Other growing techniques
• Where to grow and maintain plants
• Problems with containers
• Groups of indoor plants

Unit 8 – Vegetable growing

• Getting started
• Climate and sunlight
• Cropping program
• Vegetable plots
• Timing
• Gardening techniques
• Minimising water use
• Composting
• Seeds varieties
• Fertilisers and soil nutrients
• Transplanting seedlings
• Transplanting crowns, offsets and tubers
• Growing mushrooms
• Harvesting
• Fruit and berries
• Establishing an orchard
• Deciduous fruit trees
• Pollination requirements
• Excess fruit
• Herbs and flowers
• Cultivating and protecting and herbs
• Fertile soils
• Pruning and harvesting herbs
• Growing garnishes
• Making potpourri
• Herb charts
• Poisonous plants
• Colourful year round foliage
• Annuals

• 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;
• No entry requirements;
• All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
• Unlimited tutor support;
• Easy to understand course content;
• We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
• Certificate of Attainment/Completion issued for your CV (hard copy provided); and
• Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.

The approximate study hours for this course is 50 hours. We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).

While printed materials are not available for purchase, PDF copies are available for download and self-printing for this program.

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.

Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.

No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system and there are no work placement requirements in this course.

Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.

Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.