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RHS: Plant Nutrition & Roots (2)

Taught by Hilary Thomas

‘The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies‘ ~ Gertrude Jekyll

Course Description

This module will develop candidates’ understanding of factors affecting plant growth. The module will therefore incorporate the delicate balance of nutrients and pH levels that are required for plants to flourish, as well as drawing attention to the signs of specific nutrient deficiencies. Such study will allow the candidate to appreciate the importance of good quality soil, and so will then also draw upon: soil evaluation; management; and proper irrigation. In addition, candidates will examine compost and varying growing media.

Course outline

  • Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils

    In this lesson you will learn all about soil and how it supports plant growth. This will include soil formation and composition, as well as how to evaluate soil.

  • Water and Soil Irrigation

    This lesson covers the essentials for healthy plant growth. You will also examine soil water and its varying forms, before moving on to look at irrigation and its benefits.

  • Methods of Soil Improvement and Management

    Here you will learn all about the cultivation of soil, including how to test soil and cultivate it yourself. You will then learn how to consolidate seed beds and will consider the ‘seed bed’ system as a whole.

  • Organic Matter and its Importance in the Soil

    This lesson tackles the contribution and benefit of living organisms to soil health, as well as the process of decomposition of organic matter. From here you will study compost, including: the sources of compost; methods of storing compost; and how to make a compost bed.

  • Nutrients and Fertilisers

    You will be introduced to the nutrients needed by plants. Once you have come to terms with the individual nutrients required by a plant, you will study the signs of nutrient deficiency, as well as looking at soil pH and the effects of different pH levels.

  • Composts and Growing Media

    This lesson will focus on container gardening. However it will also cover alternative growing mediums to peat, and introduce you to the basics of hydroponics.

Choose how you want to learn

  • The Expert option

    Recommended

    Develop your learning further with marked assignments and personal tuition from Hilary Thomas

    • Start course whenever you like
    • 6 weeks tutor access for personalised assignment feedback & coaching
    • 6 assignments marked by Hilary Thomas
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 6 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • Group chat & direct message with tutor & classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
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    $499.00

  • The Peer option

    Discover the benefits of group learning in an online interactive classroom of no more than 20 people. Get the most from shared knowledge and community study

    • Start course whenever you like
    • Practise what you learn with your peers
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 6 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • 6 course assignments
    • Group chat & direct message classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $199.00
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How it works

About Hilary Thomas

Hilary is a true professional. She has been designing gardens for 25 years and taught students the key techniques as Head of Design at Capel Manor College

Octopus Publishing
Hilary Thomas was Head of the School of Garden Design at the highly regarded Capel Manor College where she taught both Horticulture and Garden and Planting Design for over 20 years. Her students won prestigious medals at the Chelsea and Hampton Court Shows and many went on to establish very successful careers as garden designers. Whilst at Capel Manor she established the first Planting Design Course in the country and her published book The Complete Planting Design Course was a compilation of the course notes. She has been a tutor with my MyGardenSchool since it started and her Professional Planting Design course is popular with students from around the world.

Frequently bought as part of this collection

  • RHS Level 2 Collection

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    RHS Level 2 Collection

    Master the entire subject and SAVE 21% when you buy this collection

    8 Courses • Taught by 2 Expert Tutors
    RHS Qualifications: Distance Learning Approved Provider 2020

    The Royal Horticultural Society’s Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture is an internationally recognised qualification designed to inform those just starting out in gardening as well as to build upon pre-existing knowledge. It can often lay the foundations for a complete career change.

    All the knowledge required to pass the final exam has been gathered here in a collection of inspiring courses. Through the power of online group learning, we bring this course to you and help you to benefit both from internationally acclaimed horticulturalists, and from others working towards this qualification.

    Purchasing the full collection is the most economical way of readying yourself for the final exam - and saving on the price of buying module by module. However feel free also to pick and choose the areas that interest you if you simply want the pleasure of horticulture and do not want to achieve the overall RHS Level 2 qualification.

    More information about the qualification can be found here.

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