Perennials 100 Hours Course

There are 8 lessons:

1 Introduction

• Review of the system of plant identification
• Physiology
• Information sources

2 Culture

• Planting
• Staking
• Mulching
• Watering
• Feeding
• Pruning, etc.

3 Propagation and Hybridization

• Seed
• Pricking out seedlings
• Cuttings
• Factors affecting cutting strike
• Propagating media
• Types of cuttings
• Hardening off young plants
• Division
• Separation
• Layering
• Potting mixes
• Potting up

4 Review of Major Types of Perennials

• Herbaceous perennials
• Establishing herbaceous plants
• Popular bulbs, corms and tubers
• Supporting herbaceous plants
• Herbs in a perennial border
• Wildflower meadows
• Maintaining herbaceous borders
• Perennials for different purposes/uses
• Artemisia
• Lavandula
• Scented Geraniums
• Ornamental; grasses
• Bamboos

5 Pests and Disease Plant pathology

• Parasitic and non parasitic problems
• Conducting an inspection and identifying problems
• Tell tale symptoms
• Common terminology
• Common pests on perennials and their management
• Diseases

6 Irrigation and Hydroponic Culture Techniques

• Significance of water
• Infiltration and water retention
• Water needs for perennials
• Watering methods
• When to water
• Testing water needs
• Reducing water needs
• Watering perennials in pots
• Drip irrigation
• Hydroponics Introduction
• Types of hydroponic systems

7 Landscaping with Perennials

• Designing the garden
• Landscape principles and components
• Landscape effects
• Design styles
• Flower bed design
• Colour themes
• Cottage gardens
• What perennials to grow in cottage gardens
• Scented plants
• Landscaping with bulbs

8 Further Uses for Perennials

• Cut Flowers
• What flowers the longest
• Harvest and storage
• Growing Carnations
• Chrysanthemums
• Herbs
• Herb crafts

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

The quality of this course is second to none, from the in-depth learning you will get to the expert individual mentoring you will receive throughout your studies. The mentors for this course are:

Susan Stephenson

BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983.

City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984)

Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

In 2010, Susan authored a complete module for a Foundation degree (FDSC) in Arboriculture.

Susan holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

Steven Whitaker

Diploma in Garden Design (Distinction) – The Blackford Centre, Gold Certificate of Achievement in Horticulture, Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture, Level 1 NOCN Introduction to Gardening, – Joseph Priestly College, BTEC Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Operations (Merit), Trainer Skills 1, & 2, Group trainer, Interview and Selection Skills – Kirby College of Further Education

Steven has a wealth of Horticultural knowledge, having ran his own Design and Build service, Landscaping company, and been a Head Gardener. His awards include five Gold awards at Leeds in Bloom, two Gold awards at Yorkshire in Bloom and The Yorkshire Rose Award for Permanent Landscaping. Steven has worked with TV’s Phil Spencer as his garden advisor on the Channel 4 TV Programme, “Secret Agent”.

He is qualified to Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture and has a Diploma in Garden Design which he passed with Distinction. Steven’s Tutor and Mentor was the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Award-winning Garden Designer, Tracy Foster. He also works for a major Horticultural Commercial Grower in the field of Propagation and Craft Gardening. Steven lives in Leeds where he is a Freelance Garden Designer and Garden Advice Consultant.