A course to develop all the practical skills that you learn when working under the supervision of an horticultural expert. The course contains all the tips to develop excellent practical skills in the management of a variety of horticultural situations.
Learn Practical Skills by Home Study: Distance education IS Practical -more than most people think!
Lesson Structure
There are 11 lessons in this course:
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Materials and Equipment
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Horticultural Calculations
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Practical Risk Management
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Machinery and Equipment Assessment and Maintenance
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Propagation Management
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Hard Landscape Maintenance
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Soft Landscape Maintenance
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Practical Plant Identification Techniques
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Pest, Disease and Weed Control
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Identifying plant tissues
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Planning -identifying needs for management of horticultural sites.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Article by our principal: John Mason
WATERING SYSTEM SELECTION AND INSTALLATION
Every garden is different, so every garden has different irrigation requirements. Here we show you how to choose and install a watering system that is right for you.
WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM?
The type of irrigation fitting you use depends upon the type of plant you wish to irrigate.
For example, if you have a plant that is likely to develop fungal problems if the leaves get wet, you need to water at ground level using drippers or a soaker hose. Sprays and sprinklers are not suitable. Alternatively, if you have a large lawn to irrigate, you will need sprinklers that can cover a wide area; a micro-spray is not adequate.
THE DESIGN
It is advisable to get help with the design, so that you can compile a list of parts.
The type of irrigation system you need will help you to decide whether or not to install it yourself or call in an expert.
Sometimes you can do a combination of both. Many irrigation supply shops are happy to help with the design of your irrigation system. They will show you how to collect the information you need, as well as how to calculate the equipment you require.
If you have a large job, with many different garden areas, you may have to call upon an irrigation designer.
FITTINGS
The following table is a guide for selecting suitable irrigation fittings.
<<<<ATT: EXPRESS table 2 across by 11 down >>>>>>
| TYPE OF GARDEN |
TYPE OF FITTING |
| Hanging baskets |
Drippers |
| Small planter boxes |
Drippers or micro-sprays |
| Vegie garden |
Sprinklers, micro sprays, soaker hoses or drippers |
| Fernery |
Misting sprays or drippers |
| Large trees |
Sprays or sprinklers |
| Rose garden |
Micro-sprays |
| Small lawn |
Sprinklers |
| Large lawn |
Pop up sprinklers |
| Shrubberies |
Sprinklers, sprays, or soaker hoses |
OTHER EQUIPMENT
Once you know what type of fitting you need, you then have to calculate how many you need and how much pipe and other parts are required.
Then make up a list of parts needed.
PIPE
- PVC, is very strong, but inflexible - To install pipes, dig a trench where they are to go. If they have to pass over paving or up walls, you can secure the pipe with electrical cable ties. Always make it as discrete as possible.
- HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) is more flexible- With HDPE pipe, uncoil it and let it lie in the sun. Once soft, place it in the trench, connect the pipe to the tap and run water through. This takes any twists out of the pipe before you install the fittings.
JOINERS
This will depend upon the type of pipe you use. PVC has to be joined with a special adhesive. You should wear rubber gloves when using this material. HDPE pipe is joined with plastic inserts that are secured with clamps.
These methods are also used to install bends and T junctions.
FILTERS
Should be installed where they can be easily accessed and regularly replaced. This is normally at the beginning of the system so as to avoid a build-up of impurities in the sprinklers, drip-ends and so on.
MANIFOLD
If you need to run more than one irrigation pipe from a tap, you will need to install a manifold. This allows you to run more. A two-way tap connector will allow you to have a hose or fill a watering can without interfering with your system.
You should never put more than one type of fitting on the same pipe. If you need more than one type of fitting to do the job, add another pipe from the manifold.
TIMERS
The choices are:
- Manual
- Computer operated - ensure you choose one with a battery back-up
- Solenoids (these will need to be installed by an electrician, and are the type used for pop-up sprinklers).
