Garden Design Diploma

Embark on a new career or boost your current business with this valuable qualification. Gardening is an in-demand professions and undertaking certified training from GDMD can dramatically improve your earning potential. Whether you’re starting your own business or are looking to improve your employment skills, this course will prove invaluable.

Comprehensive and convenient

The course is broken down into 29 individual modules. Each one 30 minutes on average study, although you can spend as little or as much time on each module as you feel is necessary – simply log in and out of your course at your convenience. There is a five question test at the end of each module to recap what you have learned. The course covers topics including the basics of gardening, garden design styles, project planning, landscaping, plant care, sustainability, pest control, vegetables and herbs and much more.

The flexible nature of the course means you can learn at your own pace depending on other commitments. The nature of online learning enables you to study anytime, anywhere at your convenience.

This course has been fully accessed and approved by IVCAS (Independent Vocational Course Appraisal Service)*. For more Information Click here

Key Learning Points

• Basics of gardening and garden design.Learn the basics of gardening, from planning to maintenance and how this will enable you to plan, purchase, plant and maintain a garden to suit the natural environment and garden characteristics.
• Survey, site appraisal and measuring techniques.Before planning a garden it’s important to carry out a survey on the proposed plot of land. Learn how to do this using survey maps, photographs and site survey check lists.
• Landscaping. Learn about the types of landscaping materials and surfaces that can be used in all types of gardens including stone, concrete, wood, gravel and glass.
• Plant selection and care. Learn how to choose the correct plants for the natural environment, how to take care of them, how much care and maintenance different plants require and which ones are sustainable.
• Vegetable and herb gardens.Growing vegetables and herbs is very rewarding. Learn how to grow and care for vegetables and herbs and reap bumper crops.
• Running your own gardening business.Learn how to set up your own gardening business, how to market your business, the health and safety laws you need to abide by, insurance, tax and VAT issues and much more.

Advantages of this course

• A detailed yet easy to understand course syllabus broken down into 29 manageable chunks that make learning easy
• Improve your career prospects with a verified certifiable qualification
• Complete the course test and receive a qualification and certificate
• Once qualified you can use the GDMD logo on your promo materials
• Learn at your own pace and fully understand each module before moving on
• Study anywhere and at any time at your convenience.

Buy this course now and gain all the knowledge you need to get ahead of other applicants.

• Units of study
• Further Info

Gardening Basics

• Soil type, soil evaluation & soil improvement: learn about the different types of natural soil and additional plant mixers which can be used to stimulate plant growth.
• Garden planning & preparation: Understand the importance of initial planning on paper, before beginning the practical aspects of gardening
• Plant planning & purchase tips: Determine plant types and their uses, discover plant purchasing techniques.
• Maintenance-Soil Nourishment & Watering: Learn the different materials essential for the nourishment of soil to facilitate growing and maintenance of healthy plants.

Garden Design Process

• The importance of the initial consultation, ongoing discussions, clarity and onsite analysis.
• The necessity of site surveying and garden concept plans to aid the decision making process and avoid potential mishaps.
• The basic elements of good garden design, including the plant options, hardscapes, texture and colour elements.
• How to gain knowledge around garden project management, garden coaching and maintenance planning for the completed project.

Garden Design Styles

• The importance of gathering inspiration daily from all avenues of your life, nature, other gardens, books, online and your creative inspiration
• About how creating a garden design mood board assists both the owner and garden designer in creating a visual effect of the ideas, colours, plants and overall theme that is preferred
• About implementing your design choice
• About the option of a virtual mood board created from an array of images

Survey, Site Appraisal & Measuring Techniques

• About the materials and areas of measurements required for surveying a site for garden design
• About the various scales used in recording site measurements on survey maps
• About the correct photographic recordings and survey map drawing requirements
• What site appraisal records and site survey check-lists you need

Planning Your Projects

• The benefits of project planning regardless of the size of project.
• The importance of creating timelines, chronological action step lists and available resources
• About developing preliminary plans and baseline plans when planning a garden project
• About developing preliminary plans and baseline plans when planning a garden project

Proportion Illusions & Effective Use of Space

• The five forms to include in your client information pack
• How to use a client information pack to increase your profits
• How to store client information in compliance with the Data Protection Act
• An example statement to include on your veterinary release form to minimize your vet expenses (May be compulsory for your business insurance policy)

Drawing a Plan & Graphics skills Surface & Materials / Hard Landscaping

• The different considerations before deciding on which garden surface materials to choose for each landscape for effective style & functionality.
• About the different hard landscaping options which can be used for varying garden requirements and preferences from solid garden flooring options like stone and concrete to softer, uneven options such as glass beadings or pebbles.
• How to determine different types of hard landscaping combinations such as wood and metal, gravel and stone or glass beadings, which can be achieved to create unique, attractive garden flooring surfaces.
• About the use of hard landscaping materials that are used to turn dull spaces into stunning visual displays and create functional but attractive garden areas.

Secrets of Great Soil

• The composition of the various soil types including their textures and unique components
• The advantages and disadvantages of the different types of soil and what can be done to enhance each for increased fertility
• The types of plants that are best suited to each soil type: sandy, chalky, clay, peat, silt and loam
• Whether being a wedding planner is as glamorous as it seemsThe secrets of creating great soil by use of organic, natural materials.

Plant Selection & Care

• The advantages of planting native species to enhance your garden and surrounding wildlife species.
• How to make best use of space constraints and other factors to adhere to when planning the spatial aspects of plant-life.
• About colour themes and the colour wheel so that the garden plants, shrubs and trees chosen complement the existing background and client preferences.
• About the effect of sunlight and climate features in relation to plant selection

Plant Knowledge Low Maintenance Gardens/Planting

• How to Identify High Maintenance Areas in an Existing Garden
• The Different Tpes of Low Maintenance Gardens
• How to Use Gravel, Soil, and Turf to Make the Garden Maintenance Lower
• About Planting Few Varieties, but More in Number

Sustainability

• Why creating a garden with plants that are maintainable is important
• Why edible plants are sustainable
• About Saving Water for Conservation
• About Reusing and Recycling Materials in the Garden

Garden Maintenance

• How to reduce maintenance if it is getting out of control
• About pruning and deadheading for appropriate care of plants
• How Fertilizer Enhances the Soil
• About winterization in a temperate climate is an essential part of owning a garden

Equipment

• What equipment you will need to run a garden design & maintenance service
• How to choose the right Tools for each job
• What each piece of Equipment is capable of
• About racks and stakes for Vine plants

Pest Control

• What garden Pests are
• Natural Vs Chemical Pesticides
• About Integrated Pest Management
• About Coming up with Multiple Treatment Plans

Solutions to Difficult Gardens

• About adding container plants to keep the plants owners love without possible difficulties
• How changing irrigation and watering systems can make a difficult garden easier to manage
• About adding new plants with an eye towards low maintenance or new landscaping for easier gardens
• How sometime starting over is the best option

Vegetable and Herb Gardens

• What to plant
• How to plant vegetable and herb gardens
• How to fertilize the garden
• About canning

Running Your Own Gardining Business

• About tailoring your services to meet the needs of groups of customers
• How to identify what people are already spending on pet care
• The simplest route to starting your own business
• What will drive a prospect to make the hiring decision and become a paying client

Marketing

• About website business marketing
• About marketing and social media for a bricks and mortar company
• Why networking is still important
• About advertising costs

Health and safety

• Health and Safety Laws including the Policy Statement
• Responsibilities of an employer, employee and safety officer
• Risks involved in gardening
• Employee training requirements

Insurance, Tax, VAT and Record Keeping

• The different types of insurance required
• About income business tax structure
• About record keeping software
• About VAT and how it will affect your business

How to build raised flower beds

• Benefits of raised beds
• Materials to use for raised beds
• Ideal dimensions for raised beds
• Step by step directions of how to make a raised bed

How to lay a patio

• What materials are used for patio
• Things to consider while planning and laying a patio
• What is an ideal size for a patio
• Step by step guide

Decking

• How to plan a deck
• How decide on the ideal placement for decking
• What materials and tool you will need
• Step by step guide to building deck

How to Put Up Garden Fencing

• What factors to consider while deciding upon a fence type
• The types of fences available and where to use them
• How to calculate the amount of material you will need to construct a fence
• How to put up a fence with vinyl coated welded wire fence with T posts

How to turf a garden / lay a lawn

• About choosing the right grass or turf for the lawn
• How to prepare soil for turf
• How to take care of turn to establish a lawn
• A step by step guide to laying turf

How to lay artificial grass areas

• Why there is need fpr artificial turf
• The types of turf available
• The materials and tools you will need
• A step by step guide to laying artificial grass

How to Build a Garden Pond

• About choosing the right site for a pond
• How to select the correct lining
• About the materials and tools needed to build a pond
• A step by step instructions to build a basic pond

Courses that are IVCAS approved have been fully assessed and met the minimum criteria as set down by IVCAS for online and vocational courses. By taking an IVCAS approved course you can be assured that:

• The course has been assessed by an IVCAS lecturer or course professional to ensure it is of the highest quality.
• The course offers significant benefit to the end user and enhances the end users career prospects
• The course is compatible with all commonly used devices including Smartphone’s and tablets
• The course provider has made every effort to keep the course content up-to-date and factually correct.

For more Information Click here