PLANT SELECTION AND ESTABLISHMENT BHT107

GET IT RIGHT - FIRST TIME!

Develop a firm basis for the selection, establishment and maintenance of a range of commonly used garden plants.

Learn about: Woody plants, Windbreaks, Hedges and Screens, Alpine and water plants, Annual and herbaceous plants, Turf, Maintenance Pest and disease concerns, Weed control and Risk assessment.

The success of a garden is largely determined by three interconnected factors:

•  The suitability of selected plants to the conditions in which they are expected to grow.
• The use of optimum plant establishment techniques.
• The garden maintenance regime.

A well-selected plant is more likely to survive establishment and be easily maintained.

COURSE STRUCTURE

This course has ten lessons, and ten assignments, as follows:

1. Introduction: What to plant where, Plant selection, Plant varieties, Which plant, Colourful year round foliage, Establishment (timing, soil preparation, pot plant size, planting technique), Maintenance programs, Plants that tolerate poor drainage, Coastal plantings.

2. Woody plants Selecting woody plants, Trees, Deciduous and Semi deciduous trees, Evergreen trees, Flowering shrubs, Selecting flowering shrubs, Establishing woody plants, Planting procedure, Planting deciduous and bare rooted plants, Shade.

3. Windbreaks, hedges and screens Purpose of windbreaks, hedges and screens, Selecting plants for screening, Establishing screens, hedges and windbreaks, Pruning an established hedge, Hedge trimmers.

4. Alpine and water plants Selecting alpine plants, Establishing alpines, Rock gardens, Raised beds, Sinks and troughs, Selecting water plants, establishment and maintenance of water plants.

5. Annual and herbaceous plants Advantages of annuals, Types of annuals (edging plants, groundwork plants, dot plants), Low, medium and tall annuals, Scented annuals, Colourful foliage, Bedding schemes (pure, mixed, single variety, single genus, standard garden, standard park), Annuals from seed or seedlings, Annuals in containers, Selecting & establishing herbaceous plants, Popular herbaceous plants, Supporting herbaceous plants, Maximising flower displays.

6. Turf Selecting turf, Turf varieties, Lawn mixes, What to grow where, Wildflower meadows, Turf establishment, Soil preparation, Seeding, Sodding, Instant turf, Stolonizing, Sprigging, Plugging, Mowing turf, Mo0wers, Mowing guidelines, Mowing heights, Fertilizing turf.

7. Maintenance Fertilizing, pH, Replacing plants, Pruning, Pruning deciduous trees & shrubs, Irrigation systems, Irrigating turf, Irrigating garden beds and container plants, Designing an irrigation system, Sprinklers, Flow rates, Micro irrigation, Avoiding watering, Humidity, Mulch, Developing a maintenance program.

8. Pest and disease control Preventing pest and disease problems, Non chemical control, Chemical controls, Environmental problems, Insect pests, Viruses, Fungal diseases, Bacterial diseases.

9. Weed control Chemical and non chemical control, Safety with weedicides, Alternative weed control strategies.

10. Risk assessment Identifying risks, Preventative maintenance, Duty of care, Workplace safety, Illness, Protective clothing, Safety equipment, Safe5ty with tools and equipment, Safety with electricity, Tool maintenance.

Aims:

• Develop knowledge of the range of applications for and selection and establishment of horticultural plants.
• Develop knowledge in the establishment and maintenance of a range of woody plants, with different modes of growth, for different situations
• Develop knowledge in selection, establishment, and maintenance of species suitable for hedges windbreaks and screens.
• Describe the cultivation of alpine and water plants.
• Describe the selection, cultivation, and maintenance of herbaceous plants.
• Explain the selection, establishment and maintenance of turf and lawns.
• Explain the maintenance and cultural requirements of herbaceous, woody, and other plants.
• Consider the different pest and disease control implications resulting from the choice of different plant varieties.
• Determine pest and disease control requirements for a new garden.
• Explain the control of weeds in a garden.
• Explain the implications upon weed management that result from selection of particular plants for use in a garden.
• Manage establishment and maintenance of plants in a way that minimizes safety risks to people working in or visiting a garden.

Duration: 100 hours

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

This course involves far more than just reading and answering questions. Here are just some examples of other things which you might be doing:

• Visiting different gardens, nurseries and/or parks. These could include home gardens, parks, commercial or any other type of site. The choice is yours. If for some reason (eg. Disability or isolation) you are unable to physically visit gardens or other places, you may undertake a "virtual visit" using the internet; and liaise via email.
• Survey or interview industry people.
• Analyse and devise maintenance plants for different areas.
• Research the cause of an incident.
• Prepare a weed collection of either pressings, photographs or illustrations.

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

 http://www.acsbookshop.com/products/2245-garden-design-part-2-pdf.aspx

 

THE ENVIRONMENT OF PLAY by John Mason 2nd edition (publisher: ACS)   Ebook

http://www.acsbookshop.com/products/2087-orchids-a-beginners-guide.aspx

 

TREES and SHRUBS FOR WARM PLACES  by John Mason (publisher ACS)   E Book

http://www.acsbookshop.com/products/2237-trees-and-shrubs-for-warm-places-by-john-mason-pdf.aspx

 

STARTING A NURSERY OR HERB FARM 3rd edition  by John Mason   (publisher: ACS)  EBook http://www.acsbookshop.com/products/2242-starting-a-nursery-or-herb-farm-pdf.aspx

 

GROWING AND USING VEGETABLES and HERBS  by John Mason  (publisher: Kangaroo Press)  Printed Book

• 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