RHS Level 2 Certificate In The Principles Of Horticulture (Package Of Both L2 Courses)

RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation and Development (Theory)

Unit 1 - Plant Classification, Structure and Function:

• Outcome 1. Know the characteristics and the naming of the main groups of plants and their life cycles
• Outcome 2. Know the structure and function of plant cells, tissues and vegetative organs
• Outcome 3. Understand the structure and function of flowers, fruits and seeds
• Outcome 4. Understand the importance of photosynthesis, respiration, the movement of water and minerals through the plant

Unit 2 - Plant Nutrition and the Root Environment:

• Outcome 1. Understand the physical and chemical properties of soils
• Outcome 2. Know the importance of organic matter in the root environment
• Outcome 3. Understand plant nutrition provided by soil and other growing media
• Outcome 4. Understand the uses of growing media

Unit 3 - Maintaining Plant Health:

• Outcome 1. Understand the importance of using safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable practices for the maintenance of plant health
• Outcome 2. Understand the problems posed by weeds in horticulture and how these problems can be minimised
• Outcome 3. Understand the problems posed by pests and methods by which these can be minimised
• Outcome 4. Understand the problems posed by diseases in horticulture and methods by which they can be minimised
• Outcome 5. Understand the problems caused by plant disorders and methods by which they can be minimised

Unit 4 - Understanding Plant Propagation:

• Outcome 1. Understand the role of seeds in plant propagation
• Outcome 2. Understand methods of propagation from seeds and spores
• Outcome 3. Describe the role of Vegetative Reproduction in Plant Propagation
• Outcome 4. Understand methods of vegetative propagation

RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance (Theory)

UNIT 1 - Garden Features, Plant Selection and Planning:

• Outcome 1. Know How to Carry out and Record a Garden Survey
• Outcome 2. Know How to Carry out a Site Appraisal and Record Essential Data
• Outcome 3. Understand Basic Garden Planning Principles and the Elements that Contribute to a Good Design
• Outcome 4. Understand the Characteristics of Accepted Garden Design Styles
• Outcome 5. Understand the Effective and Appropriate use of Hard Landscaping Materials
• Outcome 6. Understand the Effective use of Soft Landscaping Elements
• Outcome 7. Understand how to Incorporate Key Elements into a Cohesive Design
• Outcome 8. Understand the Importance of Safe, Healthy, Environmentally-Sensitive and Sustainable Development of Garden Sites

UNIT 2 - Garden Features, Plant Selection and Planning:

• Outcome 1. Understand the choice of plants for seasonal display and their establishment and maintenance
• Outcome 2. Understand the Choice of Herbaceous Perennial Plants and ‘bulbs’ for Display, and how to grow them
• Outcome 3. Understand the choice of Woody Plants for Display and their Establishment and Maintenance
• Outcome 4. Understand the Choice of Alpine and Rock Garden Plants and how to Grow Them
• Outcome 5. Understand the Planting and Maintenance of a Garden PoolOutcome 6. Understand the Establishment and Maintenance of Lawns

UNIT 3 - Understanding the Production of Outdoor Vegetables and Fruit:

• Outcome 1. Importance of site selection for Outdoor Food Production in a Garden or Allotment
• Outcome 2. Cultural operations used to produce outdoor food crops in a garden or allotment
• Outcome 3. The principles of vegetable crop production
• Outcome 4. The Production of top and soft fruit for a garden or allotment

Unit 4 - Understanding Protected Environments & their Use in Plant Cultivation:

• Outcome 1. A Range of types of Protected Structure, and their use in Growing Plants
• Outcome 2. The Environment provided by a range of Protected Structures
• Outcome 3. Structural and Cladding Materials used for a range of Protected Structures
• Outcome 4. The Control of the Environment in Protected Structures
• Outcome 5. Types of Container and Growing Media Used for Production and Display in Protected Structures
• Outcome 6. Horticultural uses of the Protected Environment
• Outcome 7. Care of Plants in an Interior Situation

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.