Certificate of Horticulture

Discover the art and science of growing, managing and maintaining plants for food, landscaping and sustainability. Whether you’re a gardener, landscaper, nursery worker, or simply looking to gain professional horticultural skills, this course is ideal for you.

The Certificate of Horticulture is a professional development course that allows you to study horticulture online to grow, manage and maintain plants across a wide range of environments.

In this horticulture course, you will explore scientific knowledge and practical techniques to develop healthy, sustainable landscapes. You will also learn about plant structure and growth, propagation methods, soil science and plant nutrition.

You will learn about plant identification and classification, garden design, plant selection, and the implementation of sustainable horticultural practices. You will also discover how to improve soil health and support strong growth, resilience and long-term success in a variety of horticultural settings.

On completion of this course, you will have a strong foundation in horticultural practices to support your professional development.

Printed learning materials may be available free to print for this course. Requests can be made by contacting us.

Course Structure

Unit 1: Introduction to Horticulture

Horticulture in Australia
Basic propagation and planting
Soil preparation
Equipment and tool maintenance
Tool maintenance checklist
Workplace health and safety

Unit 2: Plant Identification and Classification

Plant classification
Plant naming conventions
Botanical language
Key plant families
Leaves
Flowers
Fruit
Bark
Identification keys
Native and exotic species
Recording and labelling plant specimens

Unit 3: Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

Soil composition
Soil texture
Soil structure
Soil pH
Soil chemistry and nutrient balance
Soil testing methods
Plant nutrient requirements
Recognising nutrient deficiency symptoms
Organic matter and composting fundamentals
Fertiliser types and application techniques
Sustainable soil improvement and erosion prevention

Unit 4: Plant Propagation

The principles of plant propagation
Plant lifecycle stages
Seed collection, storage, and germination
Vegetative propagation (cuttings, layering, division, grafting)
Cuttings
Layering
Division
Grafting
Potting mixes and container systems
Nursery hygiene and pest prevention
Recordkeeping and plant quality assessment

Unit 5: Garden Design and Plant Selection

Principles of design (form, texture, balance, colour)
Site analysis and environmental considerations
Plant selection for function and performance
Designing for climate, soil, and water conditions
Basic garden planning and layout techniques
Preparing and presenting simple garden plans

Unit 6: Introduction to Landscape Construction

Reading and interpreting site plans
Construction materials and landscape features
Pathways, edging, and planting beds
Irrigation systems and water management
Seasonal maintenance and pruning techniques
Tool care and workplace safety in construction

Unit 7: Pest, Disease, and Weed Management

Common insects and mites
Major diseases in Australia
Significant weeds
Identification and life cycles of problem species
Integrated pest management principles
Chemical and non-chemical control methods
Safe use and storage of horticultural chemicals

Unit 8: Horticultural Work Practices

Principles of sustainability
Water efficient irrigation
Habitat creation and biodiversity support
Waste reduction and resource recycling
Sustainable procurement and materials use
Developing a sustainability improvement plan

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.

Career Outcomes

Professional Development For:

Gardeners
Landscapers
Nursery Workers
Horticulturalist
Parks & Gardens Officer
Maintenance Officer

I found this course covers the fundamentals of what I need. I learnt a great deal and the assignments were very encapsulating.

Craig

QLD

Certificate of Horticulture

April 2026

The study material was comprehensive and well-written. Would have loved to have more videos, interactive learning material and maybe some links to other pages for more research. The assignments were amazing and helped me use my knowledge and learnings. It was challenging and diverse and actually quite fun to do the assignments.

Sophia

Secret Harbour, WA

Certificate of Horticulture

November 2025

Great experience; could work at my own pace and access support whenever I needed it.

Naomi

Orange, NSW

Certificate of Horticulture

October 2025

First time online studying. Course content exactly what I needed. Good experience.

Sonia

Kingsville, VIC

Certificate of Horticulture

August 2025

I started the course last December and completed it in just over 50 hours. I work full-time, so it took about 2.5 weeks to do each unit. The content was organised in a way that gave me the information I needed or made it easy to find, which was more effective than teaching myself. I gained a lot of practical knowledge and the units I didn’t initially need were still interesting and worthwhile. The tutors were great and the price was reasonable.

Roberta

Leichhardt, NSW

Certificate of Horticulture

August 2024

Was great being able to study at my own pace

Crystal

Kallaroo, WA

Certificate of Horticulture

July 2024

It was good because I could do it in my own time.

Thomas

Keilor, VIC

Certificate of Horticulture

June 2024

Studying with Australian online courses allowed me to improve my knowledge of the horticulture industry and study when it was convenient for me.

Brodie

Rosewood, NSW

Advanced Certificate of Horticulture

June 2024

Great experience to do online as I could fit my study in around my work and other personal commitments. I enjoyed the assessments, especially those involving the practical application of what was learnt. My only little issue was the formatting in the editable assessment, I am a stickler for formatting, please don’t take offence! Having said this, the assessment will be my ‘go to’ as we commence our five year plan to make our property as pretty and low maintenance as possible. Thank you.

Linda

Spreyton, TAS

Certificate of Horticulture

April 2024

The course was very informative. I have learnt new skills for my current job and have also improved my knowledge on many aspects of horticulture.

Brodie

Rosewood, NSW

Certificate of Horticulture

March 2024

Very good, when I had trouble with a question and sent an email off to the tutor it was responded to quickly and clearly.

Deborah

Goulburn, NSW