Weed Control

Lesson Structure: Weed Control BHT209

There are 8 lessons:

Weed Identification:
review of the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the weeds, further information, contacts, etc.
Weed Control Methods:
practical research on management of weeds, understanding terminology and the use of mulches
Chemical Weed Control:
review of commercial and domestic herbicides, determining what differentiates them, their availability and use.
Weed Control In Specific Situations:
understanding weed control strategies for particular situations, accessing first hand information about weed control from industry leaders and determining a weed control program for five different sites.
Safe Chemical Application:
reviewing what types of chemicals and application methods are used in the industry and the required safety procedures for the handling and administrating chemical herbicides.
Non-Chemical Weed Control:
determining any detrimental effects chemical herbicides have on the environment, reviewing non-chemical applications and their effectiveness.
Dealing With Specific Weed Control Problems:
looking at current industry practices for weed control and the effects on the environment, in relation to specific weed control problems.
Developing A Major Weed Control Program:
a practical lesson where the student can fully demonstrate their understanding of weed control by devising a weed management plan for a designated area.
This course is taught by:

Katie Freeth
BSc. (Hons) Horticulture, (University of Bath); RHS General Examination; FI Hort; MIfpra.

An experienced and professional horticulturist with extensive management skills gained internationally; experienced in landscape management, staff supervision and management, written and oral communication, horticultural knowledge and application, supported by organisational and administrative skills and attention to detail.

Katie brings 20 years experience in Horticulture and is an accomplished lecturer, horticulture consultant and freelance writer. Katie is a judge for the International Awards for Liveable Communities in the Whole City Category.
Katie also worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in France for approx 5 years first as a Sector Manager and then as an Area Manager; management of the cemeteries, peripatetic teams of gardeners (UK & French nationality) for the constructed cemeteries and memorials and static French nationality gardeners for small town/village plots.

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.

Susan is a Professional Associate and exam moderator and 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.

She also supervised the Area Arboriculture Team and was Exhumations Officer€“ in charge of collecting discovered remains and arranging identification (if poss) and interment of same.

Learning Goals: Weed Control BHT209

To distinguish between different types of weeds, and identify common weed species, growing in your locality.
To understand the characteristics of different weed control methods.
To be able to explain the use of chemical herbicides to control weeds.
To be able to specify appropriate weed control methods, for different types of situations.
To determine appropriate techniques for the safe application of chemical herbicide in a specific situation.
To be able to explain different non-chemical weed control methods.
To be able to devise appropriate methods for control of weeds, for specific problems, in both the horticultural and agricultural industries
To be able to determine a detailed weed control program for a significant weed problem.
Practicals:

Observe and consider over 100 different varieties of weeds and prepare plant review sheets for different weed plants.
Make up a list of information resources.
Plant, grow and observedifferent varieties of weeds.
Make drawings of young seedlings of at least fifteen different weeds.
Speak/interview people who have to deal with weed control in their daily life.
Visit a nursery, garden shop or hardware store that sells herbicides to the public.
Visit at least one supplier of herbicides for industrial and agricultural use.
Contact larger chemical companies for leaflets on different herbicides.
Investigate at least two workplaces where weed control programs are regularly carried out.
Visit and inspect different sites where weeds are a problem.
Photograph different places that have been treated with weedicides.
Contact your local Department of Agriculture or Lands Department for researching purposes.
Visit several farmers who raise different types of livestock.
Develop a 12 month guideline for an integrated weed control program for a particular site