General Horticulture Courses

Horticultural managers need to have a strong foundation in both horticulture and management, how to identify lots of different plants & the science that underpins understanding how to grow those plants. 

As an amenity horticulturist, you will promote and implement strategies that conserve soil, water, air and biodiversity for the benefit of future generations, whether you work in backyard gardens to those or in the management of national parks covering thousands of hectares. This course will develop your ability to establish and manage sites responsibly and with sensitive consideration of both human and environment requirements.

Amenity horticulture is the fastest-growing area of horticulture, with excellent opportunities for employment or self-employment in different aspects of horticulture. Plan, design and manage land sites that are used for recreation, pleasure, visual enhancement, or environmental improvement rather than for the production of economic crops. This course will give you the skills and knowledge to ensure all relevant concerns are identified and appropriately considered when planning amenity sites.

This course provides a broad based foundation to allow you to adapt to and work in different sectors of the industry, as a technician, business owner, consultant, etc.

Horticultural staff need to have a strong foundation in both science and plants. They need to know:

• What affects plant growth (Soils, nutrition, water, temperature, pests etc)
• Cultural Techniques (Propagation, pruning, planting, shelter, etc)
• Plant Knowledge (Plant family characteristics, classification system, etc)

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C

This certificate focuses on the culture and care of trees, providing a sound foundation for any working or hoping to work with tree establishment or maintenance. Unlike many other courses in arboriculture, this course also provides a broad foundation across all aspects of horticulture.

If you want a career in horticulture, this is one of the best starting points. This Certificate was developed with a great deal of industry input throughout the 1990's then revised by staff in Australia and the UK in 2004 to ensure international relevance. Graduates from this 600-700 hour certificate have a history of outstanding career success. The course provides a very strong foundation in general horticulture (up to 350 hours) as well as specialised training in a chosen area such as propagation, landscaping or organics. 

AUSTRALIAN OPPORTUNITIES: After years of drought, things are now looking very bright for graduates in this type of course! Australian horticulture declined between 2003 and 2007; horticultural colleges closed and many professionals left the industry. Now the industry has turned a corner and we simply don't have enough colleges or graduates. Undertaking this course is a better bet than ever!  Talk To Us and Plan Your Career.

NB: The range of streams available for online or CD may be limited.

Develop a strong foundation in both horticulture and science; how to identify lots of different plants, and the botany and chemistry that underpins an understanding of how to grow those plants.

Graduates may find employment as

• A consultant
• A technician
• A teacher
• A research assistant.

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C

Develop the skills and knowledge needed to plan, conduct and report on research in social, technological and environmental issues that impact on Horticulture today and which are needed for strategic business planning.

• This course has been developed by professionals in both Australia and the UK, with the aim of being relevant throughout the world.
• This is a module in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture

• To identify, propagate and care for 80 different types of plants.
  
• The systematic way plants are classified.
  
• Structure and parts of a flower.
  
• To identify different leaf shapes.
  
• Different ways to control weeds.
  
• Simple soil tests.
  
• Making propagating and potting mixes.
  
• Identifying pest and disease problems.
  
• How and why to prune different plants.
  
• Drawing a simple garden sketch plan.
  
• To plant or repair a lawn; and lots more.

• Ways to optimise water efficiency
  
• Scheduling irrigation for nurseries, gardens, turf and horticultural crops.
  
• Drainage system design
  
• Operating irrigation controllers
  
• Managing system maintenance
  
• Managing fertigation
  
• Evaluating irrigation designs
  
• Design of different systems

DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH ANIMALS AND NATURE?

Then this course is for you! This course has been specifically designed for people working or wishing to work in nature parks and reserves, in managerial or technical positions.Learn about natural environments, and the management of zoos, wildlife parks, nature reserves. Develop an understanding of the natural environment and basic ecological principles, and learn a variety of skills ranging from basic gardening and nature park design, to erosion control, weed control and tree surgery.

The course covers many of the fundamental tasks which people who work in such parks need to do; including weed control, soil management, land rehabilitation, landscape construction, etc.

Develop a capacity to apply legal, contractual and staff management considerations to demonstrate informed interpretation and analysis, critical thought processes and an understanding of complex issues in relation to the management of a range of different sectors of the horticulture industry. Prerequisite: Operational Business Management I

A "Specialised Qualification" for people that has the experience and need a theoretical foundation and a qualification. This comprises a set syllabus consisting generally of 30 lessons that relate to a particular specialist theme. A Proficiency Award allows you to study subjects in a highly specialised area. You select and study three short courses of your own choice, which relate to each other (eg. Three crops or three landscaping short courses). In addition, you must complete 200 hrs of approved work experience before receiving the award. Approval of course structure must be obtained before enrolling.

This Diploma is highly regarded worldwide, and is awarded by the world's largest and most prestigeous horticultural organisation upon successful theory and practical examinations (conducted twice yearly). Theory exams may be undertaken across the world, but a one day practical exam may at this stage only be completed in the UK.

Prerequisites:  Anyone enrolling in this diploma is assumed to have first completed either: The RHS General Certificate in Horticulture; or an equivalent certificate such as the ACS Certificate in Horticulture C12CN002