Garden Designer

Garden Designer

The course is designed in easy to follow units, with set exercises along the way to ensure you understand the areas covered. The course also has 3 tutor marked assignments, which will be marked and commented on by your personal course tutor.

Garden designers need to be trained in the principles of design and in horticulture, and have an excellent knowledge and experience of using plants.

Our Garden Design distance learning course will teach you about the Design Layout, considering elements such as paths, walls, landscape features, water features, sitting areas and decking.

The course also covers information about the plants themselves, with consideration given to their horticultural requirements, their season-toseason appearance, lifespan, size, speed of growth, and combinations with other plants.

Students will have access to a personal course tutor by email. The course tutor is a highly experienced Botanist and Designer and has tutored in Garden Design, Horticulture and Plant Physiology at several UK Colleges and also holds a degree in Botany (Bsc hons).

The course is split into the following 14 Units:

Unit One – Garden Design & YouThe following topics are covered: Introduction to design; History and development; How gardens started; The beginnings; The garden today; Designers; Types of garden designers today; Where to find information; factors to consider; The gardens around you; And Unit 1 Summary.

Unit Two – What Good Design AchievesThe following topics are covered: Designers, what they do and why they are needed?; The design process; The owner’s requirements; What the designer does; The benefits of using a garden designer; Providing guidance; Types of client; You as the designer; Taking instructions; Drawing skills; and Unit 2 Summary.

Unit Three – Starting to DesignThe following topics are covered: Getting started – Equipment & Dress; Design by computer (CAD); Impressions of the garden; The initial visit; The client checklist; The design recipe; Site assessment; Surveying and measuring; Slopes; The rough sketch; The FLP (Functional Layout Plan); Triangulation and chain surveys; drawing to scale; Labelling, heights, number charts and keys; The design principals of Direction, Rhythm and Harmony, and what they mean; and Unit 3 Summary.

Unit Four – The Importance of Soils & SitesThe following topics are covered: Soil and horticultural potential; soil and sites; climate (oceanic, etc);
temperature; Light, shade and shelter; Rainfall and humidity; Soil types and pH; Topography; The soil
environment and horizons; profile pits; Improving the soil with manures, fertilisers, line and mulches;
Cultivation and drainage; Soil life – good and bad; and Unit 4 Summary.

Unit Five – Starting Real Design WorkThe following topics are covered: Getting down to design; Arranging plants; practicalities; function and form; Right plant, right place; Height, borders and beds; Information sources; Plants for problem
positions; Plants for alkaline and acid soils; Shade; Sunny; Dry; Plants for particular uses (focal points, climbers, ground cover); Designing for shapes and sizes (formal, informal); Linking shapes; Playing with ideas and concepts; Problem sites; Downward slope; Upward slope; Long and narrow; Short and square; L-shaped; Corner; and Unit 5 Summary.

Unit Six – PlanningThe following topics are covered: Planning for themes – ideas, styles and how to enhance; Plants for colour and height; The colour wheel; Getting the planting mix right; Colour patch bedding; foliage; Features needing thought; Fruit growing in small areas; Containers, tubs and patios; Plants to define areas and give direction; Rockeries and alpines; Hedges; and Unit 6 Summary.

Unit Seven – Designing for InterestThe following topics are covered: The garden in winter; Attracting wildlife; Managing wildlife; Herbs and weeds; Other services; Lighting; Furniture; and Unit 7 Summary.

Unit Eight – Water in the GardenThe following topics are covered: Introduction and uses; Siting a pond; Materials, depths and size; considerations; equipment; safety; filters; planting the pond; planning for timing and colour; Maintenance; Lighting and lighting design for water; Water features; construction diagrams; and Unit 8 Summary.

Unit Nine – Children & PetsThe following topics are covered: Children; Play areas; Children’s gardens; Equipment and toys; Plants, poisonous plants and other potential threats; Safety - water and children; Pets in the garden; Clients’ dogs; Dogs; Cats; and Unit 9 Summary.

Unit Ten – Gardening for Users with Disabilities, the Elderly and Garden SafetyThe following topics are covered: Access; Paths; Safety, features other issues; Watering; Tools; Visually and sensory impaired sensory gardens; Conclusion; Safety checklist; and Unit 10 Summary.

Unit Eleven – Upkeep & MaintenanceThe following topics are covered: Introduction; Assessing maintenance; Builders, diggers and landscapers; Plants; Ponds; Structures; Lawns; Beds; Schedules of work; Maintenance schedules; Cost issues; Practicalities; Plant schedules; and Unit 11 Summary.

Unit Twelve – Structures in the GardenThe following topics are covered: Walls, fences and trellis; Timber; Iron; Wire; Paths and patios; Green houses, sheds and stores; Other structures; Summerhouses; Furniture; and Unit 12 Summary.

Unit Thirteen – Marketing Your Garden Design BusinessThe following topics are covered: Where are the clients; How to reach clients, Word of mouth, Advertising; Portfolio and plant files; Shows and fairs; Visiting potential clients; Clarifying your service; Charging; Keeping records; Tax and accounts; Help; VAT; Insurance; Unit 13 Summary and Final Course Project (Full Design).

Unit Fourteen – Tricks of the TradeAn additional unit crammed with useful hints and tips for garden designers.

Newly qualified and trainee gardeners can expect to start on a salary of about £11,000 per year.  This can rise to around £18,500 with experience.  Many gardeners work as self-employed and can arrange a price per hour with clients. - The C&G Guide to Qualifications 2009