Horticulture is a cornerstone to our society.
Plants provide us with food, have a major impact upon our environment (eg. Air quality, temperature, flood control etc), and provide places to play (sports grounds, children's playgrounds etc. These are only a few of the more obvious places we find horticulture.
Course Duration: 1500 hours
Course Manager
This course has been designed, and is managed by John Mason, our principal. Since graduating in horticultural science (1971), John has worked as a landscape designer, nurseryman, parks manager and research officer working with field crops, prior to establishing this school in 1979. Since then, apart from managing this school he has been editor of 4 national gardening magazines, written over 40 books and maintained a small practice as a horticultural consultant.
John has been made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture (UK) and the Parks and Leisure Institute (Australia).
Tutors
All teaching staff are highly qualified and experienced professional horticulturists. Most hold both degrees an post graduate qualifications. On average, their industry experience exceeds 20 years.
A unique aspect of this course (and others through ACS) is that tutors and course developers come from both northern and southern hemispheres, and from both warm and cool climates. The content and delivery of the course aims to prepare you to work in any climate, country or social situation. We consider this aim to be exceedingly important in a world that is changing so rapidly. We aim to provide a foundation that will serve you wherever you find yourself in the future.
Prerequisites:
Either Year 12 (passed), an acceptable certificate (eg. Completed apprenticeship) or over 21 yrs of age.
Stage 1 Core Studies
The following six modules are undertaken first as a foundation for further studies:
- Horticulture I
- Horticulture II
- Horticulture III
- Plant Selection & Establishment
- Outdoor Plant Production
- Garden Maintenance
Exemption is granted for this stage to anyone who has the following:
- Any Certificate or Advanced Certificate from ACS
- Horticultural studies of 600 hrs or more class contact duration from another approved institution (Approved institutions include universities, IARC recognized institutions, institutions with a teaching approach that have a strong emphasis upon foundation science and plant knowledge)
Note: Modules from either stages II & III may be undertaken after stage I is complete.
Stage II Electives
Six modules chosen from the following:
- Practical Horticulture I
- Practical Horticulture II
- Organic Plant Culture
- Permaculture Systems
- Advanced Permaculture
- Engineering Applications
- Plant Protection Machinery and Equipment (Engineering I)
- Project Management
- Horticultural Marketing
- Amenity Horticulture I
- Amenity Horticulture II
- Turf Care
- Sports Turf Management
- Turf Repair and Renovation
- Arboriculture I
- Arboriculture II
- Trees for Rehabilitation
- Landscaping I, II, III
- Planning Layout & Construction of Ornamental Gardens
- Restoring Established Ornamental Gardens
- Propagation I
- Cutting Propagation
- Wholesale Nursery Management
- Garden Centre Management
- Cut Flower Production
- Cut Flower Bulbs
- Cut Flower Orchids
- Greenhouse Cut Flowers
- Hydroponics I
- Hydroponic Management
- Commercial Vegetable Production
- Protected Plant Production
- Fruit Production
- Viticulture
- Berry Production
- Herb Culture
- Culinary Herbs
- Medicinal Herbs
- Australian Natives I
- Tropical Plants
- Cacti and Succulents
- Perennials
- Interior Plants
- Water Conservation and Management
- Irrigation
- Irrigation Management
Other options may be considered, though the above are generally considered the better options for this particular course.
Stage III Compulsory Modules
The following should all be completed
- Horticultural Resource Management
- Horticultural Research I
- Industry Meetings or Workshop I (Note: This can be completed without difficulty anywhere in the world).
OUTLINES OF KEY CORE MODULES
Horticulture I
There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:
1. Plant Identification: Naming plants; distinguishing the taxonomic divisions of plants including family, genus, species and variety or hybrid; identifying the different parts of a flower; distinguishing the morphological characteristics of leaves.
2. Planting: Planting methods used for different types of plants including annuals, perennials, evergreen and deciduous plants; influence of environmental factors on planting techniques.
3. Soils: Classifying soils; sampling and testing soils; chemical and physical properties of soils; soil improvement techniques; composting; potting mixes.
4. Nutrition: Major and micro elements necessary for plant growth; nutrient deficiencies and toxicities; fertilisers.
5. Water Management: Irrigation systems - characteristics, advantages and disadvantages; drainage systems; waterwise gardening.
6. Pruning: Pruning techniques; importance of pruning to growth, flowering and fruiting; pruning tools.
7. Weeds: Identifying common weeds; characteristics of weeds; control techniques; herbicides.
8. Pests and Diseases: Identifying common insect and disease problems; control methods; Integrated Pest Management; pesticides; hygiene procedures; chemical safety.
9. Landscaping: Stages of landscaping; design procedures; collating pre-planning information; preparing plans; selecting plants for specified sites.
10. Propagation: Asexual and sexual propagation; taking cuttings; sowing seeds; aftercare of propagated plants.
11. Lawns: Turf grass varieties; laying a new lawn; cultural techniques including watering, fertilizing, topdressing, aerating, pest and disease control.
12. Arboriculture: Tree management techniques including pruning, removal and tree surgery; identifying tree problems.
Horticulture II
The content of each of the ten lessons is outlined below:
1. The Groups of Plants ‑ setting a framework for the whole subject. Learn to identify plants from a wide range of taxonomic and cultural groups, using a range of different techniques.
2. Use of Plants ‑ plant selection, soils.
3. Australian Native Plants -Determine techniques for the growing of native shrubs and trees, including the selection, culture and use of different species.
4. Exotic Ornamental Plants
To determine techniques for the growing of exotic ornamental shrubs and trees, including the selection, culture and use of different species.
5. Indoor & Tropical Plants -Determine techniques for the growing of indoor plants, including selection, culture and use of different varieties
6. Bedding Plants Determine techniques for the growing of bedding plants, including selection, culture and use of different varieties.
7. Vegetables Develop techniques for the growing of edible crop plants, including selection, culture and use of vegetables, fruit, berries and nuts (Part A).
8. Fruits, Nuts & Berries
9. Herbs
10. Alternative Growing Techniques ‑ hydroponics, container growing, terrariums. Determine appropriate applications for a range of alternative growing methods
Horticulture III (Plant Health)
There are ten lessons in this module, as follows:
- Introduction
- Overview of Preventative Controls
- Insecticides
- Other Pesticides
- Spray Equipment
- Insect Biology
- Fungal Biology
- Environmental Problems
- Viruses
- Nematodes, Molluscs and Crustaceans
REFERENCE BOOKS
ACS operates a student bookshop that supplies a range of horticulture texts to supplement our courses.
Many are written by the principal (well known gardening author John Mason), or other staff. All have been reviewed and approved by our academic experts (to be accurate and relevant to students studying our horticulture courses).
- Student discounts are available to anyone studying with ACS Distance Education.
- Both printed books and ebooks (as downloads) available
GARDEN DESIGN Part I by John Mason (publisher ACS) EBook
GARDEN DESIGN Part 2 by John Mason (publisher ACS) EBook
GROWING TREES and SHRUBS for SMALL GARDENS by John Mason
TROPICAL and WARM CLIMATE GARDENING by John Mason (publisher Bay Books) Printed Book
ORCHIDS: A BEGINNERS GUIDE by John Mason (publisher: Highland House) Printed Book
GROWING CONIFERS by John Mason (publisher: Kangaroo Press) Printed book
GROWING FERNS by John Mason (publisher: Kangaroo Press) Printed book
NURSERY MANAGEMENT 2nd Edition by John Mason (publisher :andlinks Press) Printed Book
GROWING AUSTRALIAN NATIVES 2nd edition Printed Book
COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS 3rd Edition by John Mason (publisher: ACS) Ebook
- Click on above link for info
- Sample pages available to download for all ebook
- E Books can be purchased online for immediate download (Can be read on a computer, ipad, iphone, lap top, most book readers or similar devices).
- GO TO www.acsbookshop.com for more titles
