Discover How to Work With Nature in Landscape Design
Nature provides its own landscapes. For many centuries man was obsessed with taming those landscapes to demonstrate his power over them. There are examples of grandiose gardens around the world. However, in recent decades there has been a resurgence of appreciation for what nature offers. After all, the native plants of a region or country have evolved over thousands of years to survive in those conditions. But natural gardening isn't all about plants, it's about recognising local landscape features, like rocks and watercourses, and incorporating those too.
This course covers the principles of natural garden design. A number of different types of garden can be considered natural - from xeriscapes to bush gardens, woodlands to water gardens. Each has the same underlying principles and philosophy. Study this course to find out how to design and create a natural garden wherever the setting is located.
What You Will Learn
There are 8 lessons in this course as follows:
1. Introduction to Natural Gardens.
2. History of Natural Gardens
3. Developing Concept Plans
4. Plants for Natural Gardens
5. Planting Design in Natural Gardens
6. Natural Garden Features
7. Natural Gardens Today
8. Bringing It All Together.
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 600 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site are relevant supplementary reading for this course
- Garden Design I
- Garden Design II
- Starting a Garden or Landscape Business
- Trees and Shrubs
- Gardening in the Shade
- Tropical Landscaping
- Water Gardening
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification in the field of human behaviour, will impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
Use this course to help you start your own garden design practice, or to help you find employment and experience to build a career in the landscape industry. It will also appeal to the home gardener with an interest in natural gardens.
This course will provide up to date knowledge and skills in how to design and create natural gardens. Study it by itself or along with some of our other landscaping or horticulture modules as part of a certificate or higher level qualification.