Level 1 Practical Horticulture Skills

Course Overview

Horticulture is all about growing plants and working outdoors. You’ll learn how to design and care for gardens, grow plants from seeds and cuttings, and look after different green spaces. People who work in horticulture use creativity and practical skills in places like garden centres, plant nurseries, landscaping businesses, farms, and public or historic gardens.

There is a growing need for skilled people in horticulture, which means this course can lead to exciting job opportunities in the future.
You’ll learn by doing. Most of your time will be spent in realistic horticulture spaces, including:

• Gardens and flower beds
• Polytunnels
• Planting containers
• Lawns and outdoor areas

You’ll work as part of a team to build your skills and confidence, just like in a real job. Classroom lessons will help you understand the science and theory behind what you are doing and prepare you for assessments. During the year, you’ll also take part in trips and visits to see horticulture in action.

Please note:There will be opportunities to take part in work placements to help you gain real-world experience.

What You Will Study

On this course, you’ll study a range of exciting topics that help you build real horticulture skills, including:

• Preparing soil and adding mulch to help plants grow
• Planting flowers, shrubs, and vegetables
• Designing and planning gardens
• Watering plants the right way
• Understanding soil type, structure, and pH
• Creating hanging baskets and container displays
• Planting bulbs and creating colourful displays
• Caring for gardens and planted areas
• Growing new plants from seeds and cuttings
• Growing your own fruit and vegetables
• Supporting plants as they grow
• Painting and protecting wooden garden structures
• Potting up plants and helping them grow on
• Identifying common plants and weeds
• Cutting grass safely and correctly