Proficiency Award 2 in Turf

Compulsory Modules

• •Horticulture I
  •Turf Care
  •Sports Turf Management
  •Turf Repair and Renovation
  •Irrigation (Gardens)
  •Plant Protection
  •Weed Control
  •Machinery and Equipment
  •Horticultural Resource Management
  •Event Management
  •Research Project I

  Elective Modules

  Choose three additional modules from the following options:
  •Horticulture II
  •Engineering Applications
  •Irrigation Management
  •Soil Management
  •Plant Pathology
  •Landscaping I
  •Landscape Construction
  •Practical Horticulture I
  •Practical Horticulture II
  •Professional Practice for Consultants
  •Supervision
  •Horticultural Marketing
  •Playground Design

CORE MODULES: Brief Outlines

Horticulture I

There are twelve lessons in this course, as follows:

1. Plant Identification: Naming plants; distinguishing the taxonomic divisions of plants including family, genus, species and variety or hybrid; identifying the different parts of a flower; distinguishing the morphological characteristics of leaves.
2. Planting: Planting methods used for different types of plants including annuals, perennials, evergreen and deciduous plants; influence of environmental factors on planting techniques.
3. Soils: Classifying soils; sampling and testing soils; chemical and physical properties of soils; soil improvement techniques; composting; potting mixes.
4. Nutrition: Major and micro elements necessary for plant growth; nutrient deficiencies and toxicities; fertilisers.
5. Water Management: Irrigation systems – characteristics, advantages and disadvantages; drainage systems; water-wise gardening.
6. Pruning: Pruning techniques; importance of pruning to growth, flowering and fruiting; pruning tools.
7. Weeds: Identifying common weeds; characteristics of weeds; control techniques; herbicides.
8. Pests and Diseases: Identifying common insect and disease problems; control methods; Integrated Pest Management; pesticides; hygiene procedures; chemical safety.
9. Landscaping: Stages of landscaping; design procedures; collating pre-planning information; preparing plans; selecting plants for specified sites.
10. Propagation: Asexual and sexual propagation; taking cuttings; sowing seeds; aftercare of propagated plants.
11. Lawns: Turf grass varieties; laying a new lawn; cultural techniques including watering, fertilizing, topdressing, aerating, pest and disease control.
12. Arboriculture: Tree management techniques including pruning, removal and tree surgery; identifying tree problems.

Turf Care

There are eleven lessons as follows:

1. Introduction - Turf Varieties
2. Turf Grass Physiology
3. Turf Establishment
4. Soils
5. Turf Weed Problems
6. Turf Pests & Diseases
7. Turf Maintenance Techniques
8. Irrigation - An Overview
9. Playing Fields & Bowling Greens
10. Managing Established Turf
11. Establishing Ornamental Turf

Sports Turf Management

Ten lessons are as follows:

1. Turf Variety Selection
2. Mowing - selection, use and maintenance of equipment.
3. Cultivation Techniques -spiking, coring, thatch removal and other techniques.
4. Preparing for Play on Sports grounds - rolling, marking, etc.
5. Preparing for Play of Greens - rolling, marking, etc.
6. Turf Protection & Preservation
7. Irrigation & Drainage
8. Soil Treatment & Sprays - pesticides, fertilisers, etc.
9. Evaluate Maintenance Facilities
10. Develop a Management Plan.

Turf Repair and Renovation

Ten lessons are as follows:

1. Understanding Turf Deterioration - physiological and biological responses.
2. Repair & Renovation Equipment - use and repair of applicable equipment.
3. Turf Cultivation Techniques
4. Health Improvement Techniques -pest control, feeding, watering, etc.
5. Optimising Turf Usage
6. Replacing Damaged Turf - techniques for replacement.
7. Renovation of Degraded Turf - techniques to repair and renovated turf.
8. Eradicating Turf Weeds
9. Treating Aeration & Drainage Problems - compaction, etc.
10. Managing a Turf Nursery.

Irrigation (Gardens)

There are 10 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction to Irrigation
2. Soil Characteristics & Problems
3. Estimating Plant Needs & Irrigation Scheduling
4. Drainage
5. Types of Irrigation Systems
6. Trickle Systems
7. Design Specifications
8. Pumps & Filters
9. Selecting the Right System for a Plant
10. Design & Operation of Systems.

Plant Protection

There are 10 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction: scientific names, terms, diagnosing problems
2. Control Techniques: biological and chemical techniques, alternative methods
3. Chemicals: characteristics of chemicals
4. Identifying Diseases: symptoms, fungi and viruses and other pathogens
5. Disease Control: life cycle of fungi
6. Insect Classification: biology and insect classification
7. Insect Control: how to control pests
8. Non Insect Pests: nematodes, snails, centipedes, etc.
9. Chemical Weed Control: weed identification
10. Non‑chemical Weed Control: natural control methods

Weed Control

The course is divided into 8 lessons as follows:

1. Weed Identification: review of the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the weeds, further information, contacts, etc.
2. Weed Control Methods: practical research on management of weeds, understanding terminology and the use of mulches
3. Chemical Weed Control: review of commercial and domestic herbicides, determining what differentiates them, their availability and use.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Non-Chemical Weed Control: determining any detrimental effects chemical herbicides have on the environment, reviewing non-chemical applications and their effectiveness.
7. 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.
8. 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.

Machinery and Equipment

There are eight lessons as follows:

1. Engine Operation
2. Hydraulics
3. Machinery Components
4. Hand Tools
5. Power Tools
6. Tractors
7. Equipment Maintenance
8. Specific Workplace Requirements

Horticultural Resource Management

There are ten lessons in this course as follows:

1. Horticultural Business Structures
2. Management Theories and Procedures
3. Horticulture & The Law
4. Supervision
5. Financial Management
6. Staff Management
7. Improving Plant Varieties
8. Productivity and Risk
9. Managing Physical Resources
10. Developing an Horticultural Business Plan

Event Management

There are 9 lessons as follows:

1. Scope and Nature of Event Management
2. Developing the Concept
3. Physical an Human Resources
4. Project Logistics
5. Marketing an Event
6. Financial Management
7. Risk Management
8. Staging the Event
9. After the Event

Research Project I

There are 7 lessons as follows:

    1. Determining Research Needs

    2. Searching For Information

    3. Research Methods

    4. Using Statistics

    5. Conducting Statistical Research

    6. Research Reports

    7. Reporting On A Research Project.

Industry Meetings

This is satisfied by submitting documentation to confirm you have attended/participated in 100 hours of events conducted withing or for the turf industry.

These may be events such as seminars, conferences, tours, visits, workshops, trade exhibitions or anything where you are able to network with other people who are involved with turf.

Proof may be in the form of a letter from an official or colleague, copies of receipts, a written report, or anything else that can indicate you have in fact attended something.

More Information on Elective Modules

HORTICULTURE II (PLANT HEALTH)

There are ten lessons in this module, as follows:

1. Introduction

2. Overview of Preventative Controls

3. Insecticides

4. Other Pesticides

5. Spray Equipment

6. Insect Biology

7. Fungal Biology

8. Environmental Problems

9. Viruses

10. Nematodes, Molluscs and Crustaceans

ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS (ENGINEERING II)

There are nine lessons as follows:

1. Surveying

2. Earthworks

3. Water management

4. Environmental control

5. Chemical applications

6. Fencing

7. Mechanisation

8. Engineering efficiency

9. Developing engineering solutions

IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT (AGRICULTURAL)

There are 8 lessons as follows:

1. Ways to Optimise Water Efficiency
2. Scheduling Irrigation for Crops and Pastures
3. Drainage System Design
4. Operating Irrigation Controllers
5. Managing System Maintenance
6. Managing Fertigation
7. Evaluating Irrigation Designs
8. Design of Different Systems

SOIL MANAGEMENT - HORTICULTURE

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils
   • How soils develop
   • The main rock forming minerals: silicates, carbonates, oxides and sulphates
   • Types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
   • Denitrification, immobilisation, mineralisation and ammonium fixation
   • Understanding soil function: plant nutrition, support, water and air supply
   • Naming a soil
   • Improving soils for plant culture
   • Organic matter
   • Plant nutrition
   • Nutrient availability and pH
   • Cation exchange capacity
   • Conductivity
   • Salinity build up
   • The nutrient elements
   • Major elements and minor elements
   • Total salts
   • Diagnosing nutrient problems
   • Fertilisers
   • Composting
2. Soil and Plant Tissue Test Methods
   • Soil sampling
   • Common soil tests: pH, texture, structure, etc
   • Tissue analysis
   • Different methods od measuring pH
   • Water content of soil
   • Fertiliser solubility
   • Testing the effect of lime
   • Laboratory testing of soils
   • Measuring salinity
   • Colorimeters
   • Bulk density
   • Understanding soil analysis
   • Deciding when and how to test
3. Soil Science and Health
   • Organic carbon
   • Available phosphorus
   • Soil colour
   • Texture and its affect on plant growth
   • Structure and its affect on plant growth
   • Consistence: affect on plant growth
   • Depth of profile, pH, porosity and other things affecting plant growth
   • Soil classification and description: different horizons
   • Factors affecting soil formation: parent material, climate, ecosystem, etc
   • Weathering processes in soil formation: physical, chemical, geochemical
   • Pedochemical weathering
4. Container Growing
   • Introduction
   • What to grow
   • Problems with containers
   • Care of containers
   • Comparing materials: plastics, terracotta, fibreglass, etc
   • Aesthetics of containers
   • Potting up
   • Potting mixes
   • Ideas for container gardens
   • History of potting mxes
   • UC mixes
   • Soilless mixes
   • Testing for toxins in potting media
   • Propagating media
   • Problems with Organic materials in media
   • Coir
   • Rockwool
   • Components of potting media
   • Cleanliness with soils and potting media
   • Hydroponics
5. Land Degradation and Other Soil Problems
   • Chemical damage to soil
   • Builders rubbish in soils
   • Salinity
   • Dogs or cats urinating
   • Growing plants in dry areas
   • Soil degradation
   • Erosion
   • Salinity
   • Acidification
   • Compaction
   • Chemical residues
6. Soil Management Applications
   • Aims of soil management
   • Soil management in orchards
   • Fertilizer application
   • Soil covers
   • Soil management for Vegetables
7. Organic Techniques and Soil Management
   • What is organic growing
   • Organic principles for overcoming soil problems
   • Natural plant nutrition
   • Trace elements
   • Earthworms
   • Types of mulch and its use
   • Nutrition managementin a plant nursery
   • Applying liquid fertilizers
   • Organic fertilizers
   • Natural fertilizers
   • Mineral rock fertilizers and soil conditioners
   • Apatite phosphate rock
   • Dolamite
   • Gypsum
   • Soil management in market gardens
   • Crop rotation
   • Determining kind and quantity of fertilizer to use
   • Cover crops
8. Soils and Managing Earthworks
   • Eath forming
   • Machinery
   • Creating mounds
   • Sources of "fill"
   • Drainage
   • Improving drainage
   • Improving surface drainage after construction
   • Designing a drainage system
   • Improving permeability during construction
   • Layout of drains
   • Types of drains

PLANT PATHOLOGY

There are eight lessons in this course, each one taking around 12 hours to complete. There are three main sections to the course:

1. Introduction

2. Types of Diseases

3. The Life-cycle of a Disease

4. Control Techniques

5. Selected Pathogen Diseases ‑ Ornamentals

6. Selected Pathogen Diseases ‑ Crops

7. Non-Infectious Diseases

8. Special Project

LANDSCAPING I

The ten lessons are as follows:

1. Basic Design Procedure A. - collecting pre-planning information, landscape elements, principles, etc.
2. History of Gardening ‑ garden styles and themes, famous designers, garden influences.
3. Draughting & Contracting - drawing techniques, specifications, details.
4. Basic Landscape Construction - timber, steps, retainer walls, pathways, playstructures, etc.
5. Surfacings - concrete, asphalt, gravels, mulches, grasses, gradients, etc.
6. Furnishings & Features - chairs, statues, figurines, birdbaths, skateboards, safety, etc.
7. Park Design A - good/bad park design characteristics, recreational landscaping.
8. Home Garden design - good/bad garden design characteristics.
9. Design Procedure B - development of concept plans and detailed planting plans.
10. Park Design B - development of park design, fun & fitness trails.

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION

There are ten lessons as follows:

1. Tools and Machinery
   • Manual Handling
   • Materials used for Constructing Tools and Equipment; ferrous metals, non ferrous metals
   • Safety with Electricity
   • Engine Troubleshooting
   • Machine Maintenance
   • Types of Machines
   • Chainsaws: safety, buying, using
   • Brushcutters
   • Earthmoving and Cultivating Equipment; rotary hoes, ploughs, cultivators, etc
   • Workshop and Hand Tools; spanners, chisels, hacksaws etc
   • Hand saws, Rakes, Spades, Shovels, Rollers, Wheelbarrows, Sprasyers, etc
2. Landscape Plans and Setting out a Construction Site
   • Reading Landscape Plans, Scale, etc
   • Understanding and Using Triangulation
   • Slope, Contouring, Grid Systems
3. Drainage in Landscape Construction
   • Introduction to Drainage
   • Testing Drainage
   • Improving Drainage
   • Improving Soil Water Infiltration
   • Improving Drainage after construction; sand slitting, aerating, sub soiling
   • Sub Surface Drains; types, layout, outlet, gradients, pipe spacing, etc
   • Surface Drainage
   • Soil Testing; testing nutrients, pH, toxins
4. Earthworks
   • Levelling terminology
   • Levelling Procedure
   • Levelling a Sloping Site
   • Earthmoving
   • Earthmoving Machinery; Bobcat, Backhoe, Dozer
   • Use an Experienced Driver
   • Topsoil Considerations
   • Earth Forming: creating Mounds
   • Building Raised Garden Beds
   • Earth Quantity Calculation
   • Soil Degradation
   • Erosion; water erosion, wind erosion, controlling erosion
   • Soil Acidification Management
   • Managing Soil Compaction
   • Managing Chemical Residues
5. Surfaces, Paths, Paving and Turf
   • Introduction
   • Surfaces for Play Areas
   • Concrete; concrete, cement, mortar, variations in treatment and use
   • Loose Surfacing Materials: advantages and disadvantages
   • Bark Surfaces, Crushed tiles, pebbles, etc
   • Paths; concrete, asphalt, etc
   • Paving; laing pavers, setting out circular paving, curved paving, edges to paving
   • Lawns and Turf; shape, design, establishment
   • Garden Edges
   • Playing Field Construction
   • Sand Based Technology
   • Constructing Steps
6. Construction of Garden Structures I
   • Buildings in a Garden; gazebos, verandahs, storage buildings, cubbies, etc
   • Where to build a building
   • Floors and Foundations for Buildings
   • Walls; brick construction, coping, expansion joints, etc
   • Fencing
   • Retaining Walls
   • Wooden Walls
   • Construction with Rock or Masonry; dry walls, wet walls
   • Home Playgrounds
   • Using Timber in the Garden
   • Differences between Softwood and Hardwood
7. Construction of Garden Structures II
   • Compost Bins
   • Traditional Features: gazebos, statues, gates, arches, sundials, bird baths, urns, tubs, pergolas, pleached alleys, etc
   • Wooden Decks
   • Constructing a Deck
   • Greenhouse and Shadehouse; types, construction, installation
   • Water Features; Waterproofing, keeping water clean
   • Landscaping a pond
   • Tennis Courts
   • Spas
   • Rockery Construction
   • Artificial Rock Formation
   • Mulching Rockeries
   • Garden Furniture
   • Lighting in the Garden
8. Irrigation Systems
   • Planning an Irrigation System
   • Types of Systems: sprinkler, drip, automatic, etc
   • Using and Maintaining an Irrigation System
9. Establishing Hedges and Other Plants
   • Factors affecting successful plant establishment
   • Physical Plant Protection Methods
   • Hedges; site preparation, plant selection, spacing, planting, pruning, hedge maintenance
10. Workplace Safety and Management of Landscape Construction Work
    • Risk Management on a Landscape Construction Site
    • The Risks
    • Keeping a Work Site Safe
    • Duty of CareSignificance of Illness
    • Protective Clothing
    • Safety with Tools and Equipment
    • Safety with electricity and different types of equipment
    • Tool Maintenance

PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 1

There are ten lessons in this module as follows:

1. Soil Analysis
2. Seed Propagation (including seed identification)
3. Vegetative Propagation
4. Potting up and After Care of young plants
5. Planting
6. Maintenance of Established Plants
7. Practical Plant Identification
8. Pest and Disease Identification
9. Weed Identification
10. Risk Assessment

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE FOR CONSULTANTS

There are eight lessons in this module as follows:

1. Determining if a Consultancy
Practice is for You
- Attributes of successful
consultants
- Advantages & disadvantages
- Codes of Conduct
- Are you ready?

2. Planning a Consultancy Practice:
Part 1
- Methods of getting into
consultancy
- Business structure & name
- Working from home or an office
- Insurance
- Financing
- Equipment
- Set up costs
- Surviving start up
- Getting assistance

3. Planning a Consultancy Practice: Part 2
- A comprehensive Business Plan & Implementation / Pro-forma

4. Knowing What to Charge
- Your costs
- Available Working Time
- Different ways to charge
- Value based fees & justifying your fees

5. Setting Up Your Consulting Practice
- Letting clients find out about you/Advertising/Marketing
- Creating a press kit
- Internet
- Image
- Networking

6. Keeping Accounts and Records
- Keeping Records
- Source documents
- The invoice
- Timesheets
- Being organized

7. How to Generate Business & Keep It
- Using agents/brokers
- Using other consultants
- Asking advice from clients & potential clients
- Asking for a reference
- Tenders
- Writing articles
- Successful client relations
- Keeping clients
- What to do if a potential client says ‘no’
- Principles of acquiring business

8. Maintaining Your Consultancy Practice
- Professional development
- Hiring staff to expand your business
- Creating passive income
- Pitfalls to avoid

SUPERVISION

There are 10 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction - Functions of a supervisor, Organisational structures and heirachy, Bases for organisational structure, Organisational charts, Supervisors responsibilities, How supervisors fit into an organisation, What does a supervisor do.

2. Understanding the work place - Government and private personnel departments, unions; Law and employees, Contracted responsibilities, Discrimination, Liability for staff actions, Workplace elements.

3. Communications and human relations -Influence in the workplace (formal authority, Reward and punishment, Knowledge, Leadership, Power, etc), Familiarity, Managing Aptitude (Status, Prestige, Loyalty, Security, Friendship, Personality, Workload, etc), Good Business Writing, Memoranda, Letters.

4. Motivating employees - Internal Incentives, Environmental Incentives, Practical ways to motivate

5. Organising the work place - Good work habits, Planning a Work schedule, Establishing priorities, Improving results, Project planning and management tools, Organising the work space.

6. Problem solving techniques - Solving problems, Guidelines for making decisions, Types of problem, solvers, Different ways to solve problems, Involving others, A Classic Problem Solving Technique

7. Discipline, complaints and grievances - Levels of discipline (reprimanding, fixing, blame, formal warning, removing privileges, termination of employment, legal action), Increasing self discipline, Introducing change, Giving orders.

8. Interviewing, recruitment, training - Job interviews, Successful interviewing, Resumes/ C.V's, Training Staff, Staff Procedure Documents, Staff contracts,

9. Work place safety -Cost of injury and illness, Duty of Care, Accidents, Managing manual work safely, Protective equipment

10. Dealing with management/worker participation/ report writing/ staff meetings - Purpose of meetings, Leading a meeting, Problems with meetings, Meeting documentation

HORTICULTURAL MARKETING

There are seven lessons in this course, as follows:

1. Introduction to Horticultural Marketing

2. Horticultural Marketing Processes

3. Horticultural Marketing Methods

4. Customer Service

5. Horticultural Marketing Research

6. Developing An Advertising Program

7. Developing An Horticultural Marketing Strategy

PLAYGROUND DESIGN

The eight lessons in this course are as follows:

1. Overview of Parks and Playgrounds
2. Playground Philosophy
3. Preparing a Concept Plan
4. Materials
5. Park and Playground Structures and Materials
6. Local and Neighbourhood Parks
7. Community Participation in Park Development
8. Special Assignment

For more information on this course, please request your free course information pack.