Maintaining your Garden

Short course

Distance

£ 438 VAT inc.

Description

  • Type

    Short course

  • Methodology

    Distance Learning

This course will give you the confidence to create or restore and care for your garden, whether starting from scratch or altering an existing and overgrown site. We take you step by step through initial and routine tasks, also explaining how to choose plants and how to propagate and sustain healthy growth. With our expert advice, you will learn how to transform an outside space and acquire a full set of gardening skills for future use.

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Reviews

Teachers and trainers (3)

Gill Lotter

Gill Lotter

Lecturer

Rosemary Alexander

Rosemary Alexander

Principal

Simon Pyle

Simon Pyle

Vice Principal

Course programme

Aim of the course:
  • To make, maintain and enjoy a healthy and attractive garden throughout the different seasons of the year.
How will you achieve this?
  • By assessing the site, nature of soil, situation and existing planting.
  • By measuring and marking out existing and proposed beds.
  • By understanding plant anatomy from root structure and leaves to flowers and fruits.
  • By learning plant nomenclature and identification.
  • By choosing appropriate plants for your soil and climatic conditions.
  • By propagating healthy plants, and tackling pests and diseases.
  • By recording what you do in your garden in a garden log.
  • By working out a maintenance plan.

There are 6 project submissions and many exercises in this course. On average the course takes 12 months to complete, working at a rate of about 6 hours per week. Although not a design course, it will teach you how to plan and plant new borders and how to choose plant combinations for year-round interest.

Structure of the course

The course sets out to teach you how to care for your garden in a professional and creative manner. It takes you through the whole process from initial assessment, planning, maintenance, and replanting.
The course consists of:

  • Six chapters of text, providing some theoretical background and lots of practical advice
  • Exercises and projects throughout the year
  • A Garden Log
  • A Portfolio of plant groupings
Chapter 1 Getting started
  • Garden analysis and planning
  • How plants work, basic botany
  • Soil
  • Plant names
Chapter 2 Getting the garden into shape
  • Clearing the site, tools etc
  • Moving plants
  • Layout and hard landscaping
  • Potting shed
  • Weed control
  • Cultivating the soil
Chapter 3 Planning the planting
  • Redefining boundaries
  • Internal divisions
  • Climbers
  • Lawns

Chapter 4 Choosing and buying plants
  • Trees
  • Climbers
  • Shrubs
  • Roses
  • Herbaceous
  • Alpines and rock gardens
  • Grasses and bamboos
  • Ferns

Chapter 5 Care of plants and propagation
  • Pruning
  • Propagation
  • Plant health
  • Going organic
  • Greenhouse

Chapter 6 Finishing touches
  • Water
  • Lighting
  • Ornamental pots and troughs
  • Efficiency
  • Planning for the future

Exercises

The exercises have been designed to enhance the subject matter covered in each chapter, and to help you check your understanding as you go.

In many cases you will be able to check your answers by reviewing the text; in some, you are encouraged to extend your knowledge by referring to other sources.

Some exercises are practical, and they will encourage you to get out there, to observe your garden growing. Some will encourage you to go further afield and to observe other gardens in your neighbourhood.

Projects

In order to participate in the course, each student must have access to a garden that can be used as a living, practical project. The garden need not belong to the student, but regular access is vital for observation.

The projects will follow your maintenance and development of the garden throughout the year. You will submit written reports to your tutor for assessment.

Additional information

Payment options: Course fee: £438 + postage Add postage: UK including Northern Ireland £15, rest of Europe £25, rest of the world £40.

Maintaining your Garden

£ 438 VAT inc.