Complete Gardener

This is our most comprehensive course, which consists of 15 lessons and provides all you need to know to become ‘the Complete Gardener’.

This course is delivered online or via mixed study¹.

Online study

Upon enrolment you receive your first course lessons via our unique online learning platform providing you with the learning resources you need to complete the course.

You can start as soon as you want and progress through the course at your own pace (you have 2 years to complete it), studying when and where you choose. This flexibility makes it easy to fit learning around work and family commitments.

The extensive course materials have been developed by gardening experts and are clear and straightforward, so your studying is easy and enjoyable. As you complete each lesson, your tutor will return your marked assignment with constructive feedback and guidance. Your completed assignments become your portfolio of work; there are no examinations to complete.

All the required study materials are included. You can also contact your tutor or the support team for help during your studies.

Additional study options

Mixed Study¹

As part of your enrolment onto this course you will receive access to our unique online platform which will provide you with online access to your course materials – making them easy to access on-the-go.

Once logged on, you can also request to have the materials supplied in printed format for you to keep, make notes and use for future reference.

¹Mixed study option is available to request from within the online platform, a small one-off fee is payable to cover printing and postage costs (available for UK based students only).

There is no formal examination. On successful completion of your studies you will be awarded the HCC Certificate* and City & Guilds Assured certificate*.

* Your certification will be issued once you have successfully completed your course and finished your course payments. Students wishing to achieve the City & Guilds Assured certificate in our Complete Gardener course are required to register (registration fee included in course price) – there are no extra assignments to complete. 

We are proud of our friendly, caring ethos and aim to do all we can to help you succeed.

Our tutors are all experienced, highly qualified and passionate about sharing their love of their subject. You can phone or email your tutor throughout the course – to ask questions, for advice, encouragement or to draw on their wealth of knowledge.

You can also contact the support team who are here to help you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

This course spans over 15 comprehensive, easy to follow lessons; each lesson includes self-learning exercises to help you absorb the information and put your skills into practice. Lesson resources along with the assignments you complete will then also become your own personal reference material for use in future. At the end of each lesson you will complete an assignment which becomes your portfolio of work; there are no examinations for this course.

Lesson 01 – Classification, Structure and Function (The Plant)

You will learn about how plants are formed.

• SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES
• CLASSIFICATION AND TAXONOMY OF SEED­BEARING PLANTS
• PLANT CELLS AND TISSUES
• VEGETATIVE PLANT STRUCTURES
• REPRODUCTIVE PLANT STRUCTURES
• POLLINATION AND FERTILISATION IN HIGHER PLANTS
• THE FUNCTION OF FRUITS AND SEEDS

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 02 – Development and Physiology (The Plant)

You will learn about the lifecycle and development of plants.

• PLANT DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE CYCLES
• PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION
• MOVEMENT OF WATER, MINERALS AND SUGAR
• SEED GERMINATION
• PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 03 – The Landscaper’s Notebook or Journal (Landscape Construction)

You will learn about what tools are required for landscaping.

• A RANGE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
• FACTORS CONCERNING THE CHOICE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
• FACTORS CONCERNING THE DEPLOYMENT OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
• SITE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
• SOILS AND SOIL TREATMENT DURING EARTH MOVING 
• GROUNDWORK AND LAND FORMING

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 04 – Establishing Hard Landscape Features (Landscape Construction)

You will learn about the order of events for landscape construction.

• SOME GARDEN DESIGN PATTERNS FOR HARD LANDSCAPE LAYOUTS 
• BUILDING IN OR AGAINST THE VERNACULAR 
• AN ORDER OF EVENTS FOR HARD LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION – A BUILDER’S TOOL BAG 
• CEMENT, CONCRETE AND MORTAR 
• FOOTINGS AND FOUNDATIONS 
• WALLING AND WALL CONSTRUCTION
• POINTING AND FINISHING

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 05 – Developing the hard landscape (Landscape Construction)

You will learn about hard surface construction methods.

• THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEPS 
• SURFACE CONSTRUCTIONS: METHODS, STYLES AND PATTERNS 
• HARD SURFACE CONSTRUCTION: PATHS
• HARD SURFACE CONSTRUCTION: PATIOS 
• HARD SURFACE CONSTRUCTION: HARD STANDINGS 
• LOOSE SURFACE CONSTRUCTIONS: PATHS, DRIVES AND LOOSE STANDINGS 
• KERB AND EDGE CONSTRUCTION

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 06 – Plant Propagation (The Plant)

You will learn about propagation methods and techniques.

• PROPAGATION METHODS
• SEED PROPAGATION
• FACTORS INFLUENCING PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS
• VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES
• BUDDING AND GRAFTING
• SAFE, HEALTHY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 07 – Outdoor Food Production (The Plant)

You will learn about vegetable and fruit production.

• SITE SELECTION
• CULTURAL OPERATIONS FOR OUTDOOR FOOD PRODUCTION
• PRODUCTION OF VEGETABLE CROPS
• PRODUCTION OF TOP AND SOFT FRUIT CROPS
• HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 08 – Garden Planning (Landscape Construction)

You will learn about surveying and site appraisal.

• BASIC SURVEYING TECHNIQUES
• SITE APPRAISAL
• PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS OF GARDEN DESIGN
• GARDEN STYLES IN SMALL GARDEN PLANNING
• USING HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING MATERIALS IN THE GARDEN
• SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 09 – The Root Environment – Physical and Chemical Properties (Growing Environments)

You will learn about the composition of soil.

• HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• THE SOIL PROFILE HORIZONS
• THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL
• SOIL ORGANIC MATTER
• SOIL WATER
• SOIL ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 10 – The Root Environment – Plant Nutrition, Soil Cultivations and Alternative Growing Media (Growing Environments)

You will learn about nutrition, cultivation and growing media.

• HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• PLANT NUTRITION
• SOIL CULTIVATION
• GROWING MEDIA

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 11 – Garden History – Part I   (Garden History)

You will learn about the history of garden styles from 16^th to 20^th Century.

• STYLES FROM 16TH-17TH TO 20TH CENTURY
• THE FRENCH CONNECTION OF THE MID 17TH-18TH CENTURIES AND DUTCH INFLUENCE 
• 17TH CENTURY PLANTSMEN 
• THE ENGLISH STYLE, 18TH CENTURY INFLUENCES
• THE MID-19TH CENTURY COLOUR EXPLOSION
• THE COTTAGE GARDEN, THE ARCHITECT’S GARDEN, PICTURE PAINTER 
• FLORISTS’ FLOWERS IN THE 19TH CENTURY 
• POST 1945

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 12 – Garden History – Part II (Garden History)

You will learn about how different historical influences have impacted garden design and styles.

• GREEK AND ROMAN GARDENING
• MIDDLE AGES
• FIFTEENTH CENTURY
• THE RENAISSANCE
• SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
• FRENCH INFLUENCE
• EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
• NINETEENTH CENTURY
• TWENTIETH CENTURY
• FAMOUS NAMES IN GARDEN HISTORY
• THE LAWN
• CHANGING STYLES
• GARDENS

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 13 – Protected Cultivation (Growing Environments)

You will learn about horticultural practices for cultivation.

• SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES
• HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES
• THE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN PROTECTED STRUCTURES
• STRUCTURAL AND CLADDING MATERIAL OF PROTECTED
• ENVIRONMENTAL  CONTROL  IN  GREENHOUSES,  CLOCHES  AND
• CONTAINERS USED FOR PRODUCTION AND DISPLAY
• HORTICULTURAL USES OF THE PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT
• CARE OF INTERIOR PLANTS

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 14 – Horticultural Plant Selection, Establishment and Maintenance (The Plant)

You will learn about how to select and establish plants as well as their maintenance.

• SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES
• HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES
• SELECTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PLANTS
• ESTABLISHING LAWNS AND TURF
• CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SEASONAL DISPLAY
• MAINTENANCE OF NON-­WOODY PLANTS
• MAINTENANCE OF WOODY PLANTS
• MAINTENANCE OF TURFED AREAS

End of lesson assignment

Lesson 15 – Plant Health Problems and The Management of Plant Health in Gardens (The Plant)

You will learn about how to manage typical plant pests and diseases.

• SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES OF SAFE, HEALTHY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
• EFFECTS AND CONTROL OF WEEDS
• TYPICAL PLANT PESTS
• TYPICAL PLANT DISEASES
• PLANT PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS
• METHODS OF CROP OR PLANT PROTECTION
• PLANT HEALTH PROBLEMS – A Note from Oliver Menhinick

End of lesson assignment

If needed you have 2 years to complete the course. We expect students to be able to complete this course in approximately 12-18 months (approx 300 learning hours)*.

*Timescales are approximate and depend upon application and motivation.

HCC Certificate

You will receive an HCC Certificate*, graded to show the standard you have reached. The HCC’s reputation means this can be highly regarded on a CV and, combined with your portfolio of coursework, is evidence of your achievements (whether you are applying for a job or a more advanced study course).

City & Guilds Assured

You will also qualify to be awarded our City & Guilds Complete Gardener Certificate* when you successfully complete this course.

You can add this to your CV to demonstrate to prospective employers and potential clients that you have recognised skills.

You will also receive City & Guilds digital credential which can be shared on your social media platforms and email signatures – this is an easy way to visually display your competencies and achievements to potential clients and employers.

To receive your certificate, simply call us to register*. You do not need to complete any more assignments or coursework.

* Your certification will be issued once you have successfully completed your course and finished your course payments. Students wishing to achieve the City & Guilds Assured certificate in our Complete Gardener course are required to register (registration fee included in course price) – there are no extra assignments to complete. 

• You could do the following jobs:
  • Garden maintenance and planting
  • Working in a nursery: growing, selling, and management
  • Garden sitting service (i.e. maintaining gardens while the owners are on holiday)
  • Growing and selling container plants or house plants.

You could choose to specialise your knowledge further in Allotment Gardening, Garden Studies – Beyond the Basics or Beautiful Gardens.

You do not need previous gardening knowledge or experience to enrol on this course.