Module specification

Title

/ Plant Establishment and Maintenance
Code / PG104
Level / 4
Credit rating / 10
Pre-requisites / None
Type of module / Extensive, delivered over one semester
Aims / This module is designed to allow the student to evaluate establishment and maintenance skills and methodology. Maintenance programmes / schedules will be produced based upon the specific needs of named plants.
Learning outcomes/objectives / By the end of the module, students should be able to-
1.  Evaluate the ground preparation techniques applicable to garden sites.
2.  Evaluate planting techniques applicable to a range of nursery stock used in garden/landscape planting.
3.  Analyse the varying maintenance operations suited to the establishment and development of a range of nursery stock.
4.  Demonstrate knowledge of the skills required and maintenance requirements of a range of landscape/garden sites
5.  Prepare a maintenance schedule for a garden area
6.  Survey and evaluate an existing garden maintenance program and outline proposals for improvements.
Content / ·  Soil improvement. Soil improvers and fertilisers, Composting, green manuring.
·  Planting techniques: notch, pit, trench, mechanical and manual preparation. Planting, staking and tying, plant support. Protection from wind and frost.
·  Nursery stock including, container grown / root-balled and bare root stock.
·  Plant sourcing and selecting
·  Trees, shrub borders, rose beds, herbaceous borders both traditional and some of the modern equivalents, bedding schemes, woodland gardens, alpine areas, water gardens, wall shrubs and climbers, lawns.
·  Methods of approach: use of tool, equipment, organic /chemical, mulching, weeds, pest & disease control, edging, lifting & dividing, fertilising, irrigation, feeding, pruning, dead-heading, disposal of arissings.
·  Schedules for both routine yearly work and for occasional longer term needs, methods of measuring. tool, equipment, organic/chemical, effect on the environment, staffing requirements, skills.
·  Review standard specifications and outline
·  Outline proposals for improvements.
·  Identify, level of maintenance, facilities, problem areas.
·  Staffing numbers, staffing skills, costs sustainability. Visitor attraction
Teaching and learning strategies / Normally delivered over one semester through
Classroom ( 14 hours )
Visit ( 7 hours )
Private study ( 71 hours )
Tutorials ( 4 hours )
Practical sessions ( 4 hours ).

Learning support

/ Latest editions of:
Bell, B. & Cousins, S. Machinery for Horticulture, Farming Press
Bricknell, C.The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening, Dorling Kindersley
Bricknell, C. The Royal Horticultural Society Pruning and Training, Dorling Kindersley
Hessayon, D. The New Lawn Expert, Expert Books
Whitehead, R. The UK Pesticide Guide, Cabi

Assessment tasks

/ Practical tasks assessment (50%) (Objectives 1, 2, 3 & 4)
In which the students will consider criteria necessary to achieve standards of operation for both establishment and maintenance of horticultural features and then carry out an assessment of the actual work carried out.
Garden Maintenance Program 50 % (Objective 5 & 6). After which they will assess the maintenance requirements for a site and produce garden maintenance programs.
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / This module provides students with skills necessary to understand the practical needs of plant establishment and maintenance. Students will gain an appreciation of the skills required and various techniques used to establish features and maintain them to a range of standards. They will evaluate the maintenance input on various sites, both from the aspect of time and skills used.
Area examination board to which module relates / Plumpton College
Module team/authors/coordinator / Ross Unsworth
Semester offered, where appropriate / 2
Site where delivered / Plumpton College
Date of first approval / N/A
Date of last revision / N/A
Date of approval of this version
Version number / 1
Replacement for previous module / N/A
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in that course / FdA Garden Design (Compulsory)
FDip Garden Design (Compulsory)
School home / Plumpton College
External examiner / Steve Terry

July 11