There are thousands of different types of garden plants, and each has different growth requirements. There is also a system for identifying plants, and once you understand it, naming them will become second nature to you! This course is ideal for gardeners, landscapers, horticulturalists or those who work in garden centres or retail nurseries.
The Certificate of Horticulture is an online professional development program that will teach you how to identify a wide range of plants systematically and scientifically to maximise their care and prolong their growth cycle.
In this horticulture course, you will study plant taxonomy, planting procedures, landscaping, propagation, soils, nutrition, water management, maintenance, pruning, pests and diseases, arboriculture and alternative growing techniques.
On completion of this course, you will understand the naming conventions of plants, which will help you not only grow them but minimise their susceptibility to a range of plant ‘unfriendly’ problems!
Course Structure
Horticulture I
Unit 1 – Plant identification
- Naming plants
- Distinguishing the taxonomic divisions of plants including family, genus, species and variety or hybrid
- Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
- Characteristics of botanical families
- Structure and arrangement of leaves and leaflets
- Leaf terminology
- Leaf arrangements
- Flower structure and identifying the different parts of a flower
- How seeds form
- Plant reviews
- Collecting and pressing plants for herbaria
Unit 2 – Planting
- Garden terminology
- Common garden problems
- Basic planting procedure
- Fertilising and staking when planting
- Dealing with bare rooted plants
- Time of planting
- Deciding where to plant
- Mulching
- Making garden beds
- Raised beds
- Sunken beds
- Planting terminology
Unit 3 – Recognising plant families and identifying plants
- Becoming familiar with plant families
- Botanical Latin
- Systematic examination of plants – dicot or monocot, type of wood, etc
- Characteristics of important families including: Amaryllidaceae, Araceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae.
- Getting to know more common families
- Other ways to identify plants
- Plants for shade
- Plants for exposed conditions
- Plants for inner city gardens
Unit 4 – Soils
- Purpose of soil
- Soil structure: classifying soils
- Soil water and air
- Soil temperature
- Soil pH
- Nutrient availability
- Naming a soil
- Improving soils
- Composting
- Natural plant foods
- Sampling and testing soils
- Potting soil mixes
- Soil terminology
Unit 5 – Plant nutrition
- The nutrient elements
- Major elements
- Minor elements
- Diagnosis of nutrient problems
- Fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
- How much fertilizer to apply
- Terminology
Unit 6 – Water management
- Introduction to irrigation
- Feasibility of irrigation
- Soil and water
- When to irrigate
- Water deficiency symptoms
- Types of soil moisture; gravitational, capillary, hygroscopic
- Measuring water available to plants
- Rooting depths of plants
- Estimating water requirements
- Pumps, sprinklers and other equipment
- Understanding hydraulics
- Conventional sprinkler systems; portable, permanent, semi permanent
- Cyclic watering
- Pulse watering
- Irrigation scheduling
- Sprinkler spacing
- Improving soils for water management
- Drainage
- Erosion management
- Soil compaction
- Acidification
Unit 7 – Garden maintenance and weeds
- Cost of garden maintenance
- Machinery
- Comparing more and less costly areas of the garden.
- Common weeds and their identification
- Weed control methods – chemical and non chemical
- Plants that become invasive
- Environmental weeds
Unit 8 – Pests and diseases
- Pest and disease overview
- Preventative measures for managing pest and disease
- Review of major pest problems and control options: Aphis, Borers, Caterpillar, Leaf Miner, Mealy Bug, Red Spider, Scale, etc
- Review of major diseases and their control: Anthracnose, Black Leg, Rots, Botrytis, Damping off, Die back, Mildew, Rust etc.
- Diagnosis of problems
- Introduction to plant pathology and entomology
- Chemical pesticides and basic toxicology
- Integrated pest management
Unit 9 – Pruning
- Reasons for pruning
- Identifying bud types
- Basic rules of pruning
- Pruning in a home orchard
- Terminology
- Winter pruning tools
- Examples of winter pruning; Crepe Myrtle, Hydrangea, Raspberry, Fuchsia, Kiwi Fruit, Grevillea, etc
- Rose pruning
Unit 10 – Landscaping
- Introduction and pre planning information
- Plant selection criteria
- Covering the ground
- Living plant cover
- Mulches
- Container growing outside
- General considerations
- Terminology
Unit 11 – Propagation
- Methods of propagation: seed propagation and vegetative propagation
- Propagation structures: cold frames
- Cutting propagation
- Factors affecting rooting of cuttings
Unit 12 – Lawns
- Turf grass varieties
- Review of common turf species
- Laying a new lawn
- Common turf problems
- Cultural techniques including watering, fertilizing, topdressing, aerating, pest and disease control.
Unit 13 – Arboriculture
- What is arboriculture
- How to keep trees healthy
- Where and how to cut trees to remove branches or prune
- Why remove a tree
- Ways to fell a tree
- Removing a stump
- Tree surgery; terms and techniques
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 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
The course material was extensive and the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained was more than I hoped for
L. Scanlan, Patterson Lakes, VIC | Certificate of Horticulture
A flexible course really helps with the busy schedule of a working parent
Tuan | Joondanna, WA | Certificate of Horticulture
Very good, when I had trouble with a question and sent an email off to the tutor it was responded to quickly and clearly.
Deborah | Goulburn, NSW | Certificate of Horticulture
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:-
- Horticulturists
- Garden Centres
- Retail Nurseries
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