Take the uncertainty out of managing turf for a successful career in landscape gardening or to build a profitable business in the turf industry with this turf care course.
Certificate of Turf Care is an online professional development course that will provide you with the basics in turf grass varieties, soil management, cultivation techniques and irrigation.
Throughout this turf management course, you will learn to plant, establish, maintain and repair lawns for various establishments, including homes, golf courses, sports grounds, bowls clubs.
On completion of this course, you will feel confident to plant, establish and maintain quality lawns and sports turf.
Course Structure
Unit - Turf Care
Unit 1 – Introduction – Turf Varieties
- The benefits of turf
- History of turf
- List of turf varieties
- Lawn mixes
- What to grow where
- Important lesson notes
- Turf varieties reports
- How to lay out your turf variety report
Unit 2 – Turf Grass Physiology
- How to grow turf
- Grasses
- Structure (Morphology) of a Typical Grass
- Flowers
- Spotting Other Characteristics
- Turf grass roots
- Shoot development
- Root: Shoot Ratio
- Recuperative Potential
- Ways to identify grasses
- Identification Key to selected Common Turf Grasses
- Identifying tips
- Fescue
- Bent Grass
- Bluegrass
- Other grasses
- Description of major warm season lawn grasses
- Couch
- Carpet grasses
- Paspalums
- Grass diagrams
Unit 3 – Turf Establishment
- Establishing turf grasses
- Soil preparation
- Seeding
- Sodding/instant turf
- Drainage
- Chitted seed
- Work scheduling
- Work sheet – planning a work schedule
- Project component estimate form
- Costing guide
- Materials and equipment costs
- Insurance costs and wages
- Administration costs
- Hourly rate
- Profit
Unit 4 – Soils
- Understanding soil
- Soil texture
- Soil blends
- Soil structure
- Soil pH
- Improving soils
- Improving fertility
- Types of areas do you need to buy in soil
- What type of soil do you need?
- Calculating soil quantities
- Cation exchange capacity
- Plant nutrition
- The nutrient elements
- The macronutrients
- The micronutrients
- Fertilising turf
- Drainage
- Improving soil permeability during garden construction
- Improving surface drainage after construction
- Layout of drains
- Types of drains
Unit 5 – Turf Weed Problems
- Weed management
- How are weeds spread?
- Preventing dispersal
- Non–chemical control methods
- Herbicide use in turf
- Spraying at the recommended concentration
- Always read the label!
- How poisonous is it?
- Examples of commercial formulations
- Domestic range of herbicides
Unit 6 – Turf Pests & Diseases
- Chemical control
- Turf health problems
- Non-parasitic problems in turf
- Fungi
- Turf pests
- A review of chemicals – pesticides
- Fungicides
- Spray equipment
- Sprayer maintenance and cleaning
- Domestic lawn care program
- Common environmental problems in turf
Unit 7 – Turf Maintenance Techniques
- Mowing turf
- Turf mowers
- Mowing guidelines
- Length of cut
- Height guidelines:
- Getting a clean cut
- To catch or not to catch
- Direction of cut or pattern of cutting
- What about cutting steep slopes?
- What to do with lawn clippings?
- After mowing care
- Mower safety
- What to wear
- Other safety considerations
- Other turf maintenance techniques
- Golden rules of laying instant turf
Unit 8 – Irrigation – An Overview
- Water and plant growth
- Water loss from soils
- Improving water retention
- The movement of soil water
- Types of soil water
- Field capacity
- Estimating water needs of turf
- Cool climate grasses
- Irrigating turf
- When to irrigate
- Maintaining appropriate water levels
- Rate of watering
- Period of watering
- Cyclic watering
- Pulse watering
- Irrigation systems
- Conventional sprinkler systems
- Methods of driving rotating head sprinklers
- Irrigation system design considerations
- Sprinkler spacing
- Sprinkler performance in irrigation system designs
- Electrical considerations
- Electric automatic systems
Unit 9 – Playing Fields & Bowling Greens
- Gradients and dimensions for sporting facilities
- Dimensions for athletics fields
- Dimensions for various sporting fields
- Gradients of playing fields
- Construction procedure for a playing field
- Sand-based technology
- General specifications for golf course preparation
- Course preparation for the Australian open golf championship
- Cricket wicket table construction
- Laying a turf wicket
- Maintenance and repair of turf wickets
- Marking a wicket
- Treatment after play
Unit 10 – Managing Established Turf
- Golf course care and maintenance
- Mowing
- Watering
- Drainage
- Renovation
- Top dressing
- Changing pins and tee markers
- Fertiliser requirements
- Quick guide for a fertiliser program
- Fertilising greens and tees
- Weeds and pest and disease control
Unit 11 – Establishing Ornamental Turf
- Ornamental turf
- Shade and establishment
- Planning for the environment with golf courses
- Environmental assessment
- An environmental audit
- Inclusions for an environmental audit
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.
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 entry requirements or pre-requisites for entry into this program.
How long will it take to complete this course?
The approximate study hours for this course is 50 hours. We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).
Can I purchase optional printed materials?
While printed materials are not available for purchase, PDF copies are available for download and self-printing for this program.
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.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of this course?
Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system 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 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.
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:-
- Gardeners
- Landscapers
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