Student Comment:
I am extremely satisfied with my experience of ACS. The educational materials were easy to read and understand. The assignments were very practical and the administrative staff at the office were just superb. Jose studying Horticulture
COURSE STRUCTURE
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
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
2. Planting
Garden terminology
Common garden problems
Basic Planting Procedure
Fertilising and Staking when planting
Dealing with BaZre Rooted Plants
Time of Planting
Deciding where to plant
Mulching
Making Garden Beds
Raised Beds
Sunken Beds
Planting Terminology
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
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
5. Plant Nutrition
The Nutrient Elements
Major Elements
Minor Elements
Diagnosis of Nutrient Problems
Fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
How much fertilizer to apply
Terminology
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, permenant, semi permenant
Cyclic Watering
Pulse Watering
Irrigation scheduling
Sprinkler spacing
Improving Soils for Water Management
Drainage
Erosion Management
Soil compaction
Acidification
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
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
9. Pruning
Reasons for Pruning
Identifying bud types
Basic rules of pruning
Pruning in a home orchard
Terminology
Winter PruningPruning tools
Examples of Winter Pruning; Crepe Myrtle, Hydrangea, Raspberry, Fuchsia, Kiwi Fruit, Grevillea, etc
Rose Pruning
10. Landscaping
Introduction and Pre Planning Information
Plant Selection Criteria
Covering the Ground
Living Plant Cover
Mulches
Container Growing Outside
General Considerations
Terminology
11. Propagation
Methods of Propagation: Seed Propagation and Vegetative Propagation
Propagation Structures: Cold Frames
Cutting Propagation
Factors affecting rooting of cuttings
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.
13. Aboriculture
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
NOTE: The traditional (printed notes) version of this course varies slightly to the online and e learning version. It only has 12 lessons, but throughout those lessons, you are given extra work related to plant knowledge. The learning overall though, is basically the same, no matter which version you undertake.
Duration: 100 hours (Nominal Duration).
COURSE AIMS
Distinguish between different plants, to enable identification of the plant species.Explain appropriate procedures for establishing a range of plants in different conditions.Describe the characteristics of plant growing media necessary for healthy plant growth.Explain the characteristics of plant nutrition necessary for healthy plant growth.Determine appropriate water management procedures for healthy plant growth.Understand appropriate procedures for pruning plants on a horticultural site.Determine solutions for the management of a range of common weeds.Determine solutions for the management of a range of common pests and diseases.Prepare a concept plan for the development of a garden.Understand commonly used plant propagation techniques.Develop guidelines for general lawn care.Develop guidelines for general tree care in a horticultural situation.
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Distinguish between plants in order to identify at least 120 plants on plant review sheets.Plant out a container plant following a recommended procedure.Sample and carry out simple tests on different soils.Identify a range of nutrient problems in plants.Identify a range of pest and disease problems in plants.Demonstrate the correct procedure
Recommended e books - by our principal and founder, John Mason
Buy, download and read immediately; or download an extract for free
for pruning a plant.Identify a range of different plants, based on their flower and leaf structures.Determine appropriate procedures for planting according to type of plant and site.
REASONS TO STUDY WITH ACS DISTANCE EDUCATION
- Reputation:
-teaching Horticulture since 1979
-exceptional faculty staff (see below) - Hands on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills
- Uniqueness:
-successful people are always those who can offer a skill or service that others can't
-this course is different; our graduates have different skills to set them apart. - Relevance -curriculum developed in response to industry needs
- Lots of help: personal, prompt attention from tutors
- Holistic Courses: We teach more than just "facts"
-success is only 20% about intelligence (and what you know)
-you also need to build networking, problem solving & communication skills, and more!
-this course helps you develop all of these things and more - Value: courses compare very favorably on a cost per study hour basis
- Up to date: courses under constant review
- Student amenities: This school is backed by over one of the most unique and comprehensive private collections of intellectual property in the horticultural industry. The principal and staff have written and published over 50 books and 150 gardening magazines, as well as 20,000 hours horticultural study programs. A team of 5 horticultural writers continue to develop and update new material continually. These resources together with web sites, an online student room, social media etc. provide a unique and comprehensive facility to support students studying with the school.
OUR FACULTY
These are just some of the people involved with developing and updating courses; and tutoring our horticulture students
John Mason Dip.Hort.Sc.
40 years + in horticulture Graduated from Burnley Horticultural College in 1971,Nurseryman, Landscape Designer and Parks Director through the 1970's. One of Australia's most published garden writers, author of books published by Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins, CSIRO and other major publishers; Editor for 4 different national gardening magazines; honored as a fellow of both the Institute of Horticulture in Australia and the Institute of Horticulture in the UK.
Gavin Cole B.Sc., M.Psych.
30 years + in horticulture. Renowned horticulturist and psychologist. Former operations manager for the highly regarded "Chelsea Gardener" landscape firm in London, garden writer and landscaper in both Brisbane and Adelaide in Australia.
Maggi Brown
40 years + in horticulture. Former education manager for "Garden Organic"; England's peak organic gardening and farming body.
Dr Lyn Morgan Phd
25 years + in horticulture. New Zealand based hydroponic consultant and author, with experience working everywhere from Asia to America.
Rosemary Davies Dip.Hort.Sc.
30 years + in horticulture; including Victorian Department of Agriculture Gradening Advisor, Gardening Editor/writer/author for major publishers and newspapers.
Diana Cole B,A., RHS Dip Hort, NTEC Higher Dip in Garden Design
15 years + in horticulture and landscaping
Adriana Fraser Adv.Dip.Hort.
30 years + in horticulture. Consultant, teacher, garden write, manager of plant collections
Bob James B.App.Sc(Hort), M. Env.Sc., Grad.Dip.Mgt., PDC, Dip.An.Husb.
Yvonne Sharpe Dip.Hort., M.Hort.
Martin Powdrill B.Sc(Hons), M.Sc. PDC
Marie Beerman B.Sc., M.Hort.
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
