Gardening & Landscaping

Course details

Whether you enjoy gardening and landscaping as a hobby or are serious about developing your horticulture knowledge, Stratford's course is an ideal place to start growing your career. 

This course begins with the fundamentals of gardening, including how to create and care for all types of plants and flowers, then provides a thorough introduction on all aspects and techniques of professional landscaping. You'll get home gardening ideas and well as learn more about how to start a landscaping business.

Gardening & Landscaping Course Outline

Gardening and Landscaping Module 1

Introduction to Professional Gardening and Landscaping

• 40 Ways to Make Money in Landscaping and Gardening
• Understanding and Identifying Plants
• Garden Maintenance and Garden Features
• Selecting and Using Plants in the Landscape or Garden
• The Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Gardeners and Landscapers

Gardening and Landscaping Module 2
Green Gardening Part 1

• Planning your garden
• Lawns and ground covers
• Perennials
• Irises, peonies, daylilies, hostas, chrysanthemums, and carnations
• Ornamental grasses
• Ferns
• Bulbs, corms, and tubers
• Dahlias, gladioli, and lilies

Gardening and Landscaping Module 3
Green Gardening Part 2

• Rock and water gardens
• Annuals and biennials
• Trees
• Shrubs and vines
• Hedges
• Roses
• Rhododendrons and azaleas
• Heathers and heaths

Gardening and Landscaping Module 4
Green Gardening Part 3

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Herbs
• Taking care of your garden

Gardening and Landscaping Module 5
Introduction to Landscaping

• Using drawing instruments
• Lettering
• Graphic materials and techniques
• Analyzing the landscape site
• The landscape process
• The outdoor room concept
• Plant selection
• The principles of design
• Flowers
• Xeriscaping

Gardening and Landscaping Module 6
Techniques of Landscaping

• Hardscape
• Enrichment
• Landscaping in the Age of Technology
• Pricing the proposed design
• Landscape calculations
• Understanding contracts and contractors
• Contract documents
• Specifications
• Resources
• Installing landscape plants
• Selecting the proper grass
• Lawn construction
• Landscape irrigation
• Interior plantscaping
• Maintaining landscape plants
• Plant injuries
• Care of the lawn
• Winterization of the landscape
• Pricing landscape maintenance
• Safety in the landscape industry