If you love gardening, this course will show you how to be a professional gardener or take better care of your own garden. This course is ideal for people hoping to work in garden maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, parks and gardens or garden tourism.
The Certificate of Garden Maintenance is an online professional development program that will provide the knowledge and skills required to maintain a healthy, beautiful garden and to operate a gardening business.
In this online garden course, you will explore the needs of plants, including how to prune correctly, identify signs of stress and remedy and prevent disease.
You will also learn how to plan, manage and maintain a garden, including maintenance costs, to organise staff, equipment requirements, weed control, turf management and irrigation systems planning.
On completion of this course, you will have gained a wide range of knowledge to start your own garden maintenance business or to take care of your own garden professionally.
Course Structure
Unit - Garden Maintenance
Unit 1 – Introduction Planning and Managing a Garden
- Cost of maintenance
- Expensive and less expensive areas of a garden
- Planning
- Garden checklists
- Analysing maintenance of parks and gardens
- Organising garden maintenance staff
Unit 2 – Garden Furnishings and Machinery
- What tool for what job
- Overview of machinery
- Mowers and how to mow
- Aerators, chippers, mechanised sprayers, chain saws, brush cutters, etc.
- Tractors
- Tool maintenance
- Engine troubleshooting
- Outdoor furniture -plastic, timber, metal
- Protecting furnishings -paints, stains, preservatives
Unit 3 – Feeding Plants
- Symptoms of nutritional and other problems
- Conducting an inspection of plants
- Soil characteristics and identification of soil issues
- Review of plant nutrition
- Choosing the right fertiliser
- Diagnosing nutritional problems
- Improving soils
Unit 4 – Weed Control
- Nature and scope of weed problems
- Natural ways to control weeds -suffocation, burning, cultivation, etc
- Common groups of weeds and options for treating and recognising different weed varieties
Unit 5 – Weedicides
- How weeds spread
- Types of chemicals found in weedicides and suitable weedicide
- Which chemical would control the weed
- Chemicals and the law
Unit 6 – Natural Pest Control
- Scope and nature of natural controls
- Cultural controls
- Mechanical control methods
- Physical control methods
- Methods for controlling selected insects
- Companion planting
- Common environmental problems
- Tolerance levels in different plants
- Biological controls
- Natural sprays
- Buffer zones
- Mulching
Unit 7 – Chemical Pest Control
- Integrated pest management (IPM)
- Ways of applying chemicals
- Safety with chemicals
- Understanding pesticides -toxicity, ld50, persistence, etc.
- Specific chemical treatments and a summary of pesticides
Unit 8 – Turf Management
- Common turf problems
- Turf pests
- Chemical damage
- Establishment and maintenance of lawns
- Mowing, fertilizing, aeration, etc
- Turf varieties, appropriate turf for specific areas, low and high maintenance turf
Unit 9 – Irrigation
- Importance of water
- Water loss from different soils & improving water retention
- Understanding water dynamics in soil
- Irrigation -types of systems
- Planning an irrigation system
- Using an irrigation system
- Controlling slippery surfaces
Unit 10 – Maintenance of Plants
- Why prune
- Before pruning
- Time of pruning: does it matter?
- What to consider when pruning
- Removing dead wood
- Controlling shape and size
- How to prune different types of plants
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Approval and Recognition
Australian Online Courses Pty Ltd is an approved and recognised member of IARC. The IARC is an International association that recognises quality and excellence in tertiary education providers.
Testimonials
Easy to understand, and being able to complete at your own pace made it stress-free and enjoyable.
N. Fox, Melbourne, VIC | Certificate of Garden Maintenance
I enjoyed the course and felt I learnt a lot through researching my assignment answers. I didn’t feel the need for tutor support, but they kept in touch with me, which I thought was good just in case I got stuck.
Christopher | Flaxton QLD | Certificate of Garden Maintenance
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrolment Form – Employment Services and Rehabilitation Providers
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:-
- Garden Maintenance Staff
- Landscapers
- Garden Renovators
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