Learn from a team of leading horticultural experts from both Australia and the UK. This is a unique opportunity, with lots of support services including unlimited opportunity to network with professional horticulturists who have decades of industry experience; and with fellow students from around the world.
This course works by focusing on learning not only how to do things in horticulture, but also understanding the science of plant identification and growth (something that is sadly under emphasised in many other courses these days). At the end of the day, we find that graduates are far more successful in their careers when armed with a solid grounding in the scientific foundations of horticulture
The Certificate in Horticulture (Ornamental Horticulture) is a vocationally oriented course comprising core studies (general horticulture) and stream studies specific to ornamental horticulture.
The objective of the course is to:
- develop general and broad based skills in horticultural practices and plant identification.
- provide more specific knowledge in areas of ornamental horticulture including garden maintenance, turf care, arboriculture, landscaping and nursery work.
Certificate in Horticulture involves the areas of work:
- CORE STUDIES - this involves 300-350 hours, divided into 15 lessons, approx. half of the course.
- ELECTIVE STUDIES - this involves a further 300-350 hrs of study going into greater depth in the areas of garden maintenance, nursery practices and landscaping.
CORE STUDIES:
1. Introduction to Plants
Nomenclature and taxonomy, the plant kingdom, genus, species, hybrids.
2. Parts of the Plant
How plants grow, plant structure, parts of the flower and leaf, modification of stems and roots.
3. Plant Culture - Planting
How to plant and protect newly planted specimens, terms like: annuals, biennials, perennials, deciduous, evergreen and herbaceous plants.
4. Plant Culture - Pruning
Purpose for pruning, rules for pruning, how to prune.
5. Plant Culture - Irrigation and Machinery
Different irrigation systems, components of an irrigation system, designing an irrigation system, selection, use and maintenance of machinery and tools.
6. Soils & Media
Soil classifications, testing soil, potting mixes, the U.C. System, ingredients of potting mixes.
7. Soils & Nutrition
Fertilisers - deficiencies and toxicities, N:P:K ratios, salting, fertiliser programming, compost.
8. Propagation - Seeds & Cuttings
How to propagate plants by seed and cuttings, propagating mixes, cold frame construction, after care for young plants.
9. Propagation - Other Techniques
Other methods to increase plant numbers - budding, grafting, layering, division and tissue culture.
10. Identification and Use of Plants
How are plants used in the landscape, how to choose and purchase plants, selecting plants suitable for the climate and site.
11. Identification and Use of Plants
Problems with plants and choosing plants for problem sites.
12. Identification and Use of Plants
Indoor and tropical plants, flowers, herbs, bulbs, ferns.
13. Pests
Identifying and controlling pests, chemical and natural methods for control, chemical safety precautions.
14. Diseases
Identifying and controlling diseases, plant pathology, fungi, viruses, non-pathogenic problems, interactions with the host and the environment.
15. Weeds
Identifying and controlling weeds, chemical terminology.
STREAM STUDIES: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE
This part of the course involves four main areas of study, as follows:
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Landscaping
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Plant knowledge
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Plant Care
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Nursery Practices
Scope of stream studies:
*Landscape design (including pre-planning and drawing plans).
*Principles and styles of landscape designs.
*Analysis of garden designs.
*Graphic skills, materials and techniques.
*Estimating costs for landscape jobs.
*Surfacing materials and their effects.
*Quality and cost of different landscape materials.
*Plant knowledge, both native and exotic, suitable for local conditions.
*Plant selection for difficult sites and conditions (including treating degraded sites and interior plantscaping).
*Tropical and indoor plants.
*Environmental factors important for indoor plant culture.
*Bulbs, perennials and annuals.
*Planting design for flower beds (annuals and bulbs) suitable for the locality of the student.
*Herb culture and garden design.
*Miscellaneous growing techniques including; bonsai, terrariums, pot culture, baskets and hydroponics.
*Describe the importance of trees to humans.
*Procedures for the proper and safe removal of a limb from a tree.
*Tree problems and their treatment.
*Compartmentalisation, and its effect on the spread of disease in trees.
*Preparing a detailed maintenance program for a garden.
*Seed selection, storage, preparation and spreading (sowing).
*Preparation, planting and establishment of a lawn.
*Establishing turf on a steep slope.
*Turf maintenance techniques.
*Analysis of nursery production systems.
*Preparing a flow chart for the production of a particular plant, from propagation to marketing.
*Preparing a maintenance program for green life in a garden centre.
*Preparing guidelines for the disposal of surplus or below standard stock in a nursery.
*Write an advertisement for a nursery or garden maintenance business.
*Basic management procedures for a single person nursery or garden maintenance business.
*Basic communication skills.
*Health and safety requirements for a nursery or garden maintenance workplace.
THE ACS TEAM APPROACH
ACS was founded by John Mason in 1979 as Australian Horticultural Correspondence School.
Right from these very early times, we've always believed that the best education only comes when the student is learning from the experience of a whole range of industry experts (rather than just a single teacher).
Every ACS course is a work in progress, continually evolving, with new information being added and old information being updated by our team of internationally renowned professional horticulturists.
Over the decades more than 100 horticulture experts from across the world have contributed to these courses, bringing their individual knowledge and experiences from as wide afield as England and Spain to Australia and America.
While may colleges and universities focus on providing courses that relate only to the country where they are based, ACS has always strived to make it's courses relevant to all parts of the world; any climate, economic or cultural situation. This has been achieved by involving a large number of professionals in the course development.
When it comes to tutoring, marking papers and mentoring students, the team approach is just as strong as with our writing. ACS students have the ability to obtain advice and support from staff across the world, with horticulture tutors located in the UK, Australia (both the north and south) and New Zealand.
The ACS team approach and global focus to both course content and student support, ensures our graduates have a unique and "real world" skills set. This unique approach is highly regarded by our colleagues in horticulture.
