Courses

Garden Centre Operations

This programme has been developed in conjunction with the garden centre industry. 


Designed for staff who require knowledge on the use and care of a wide range of products, plants and goods, together with an introduction to customer care and merchandising.

The course consists of 5 units and covers:

D3BB 11: Garden Centre: Retailing Skills
This unit enables candidates to acquire an understanding of retailing skills as required by the garden centre. Includes stock care, presentation, seasonality; maintenance of living and non living displays; effective customer service and communication.

D3BE 11: Garden Centre: Plant Identification, Selection and Use
Provides candidates with a general knowledge of plant groupings, plant labelling and the skills necessary to identify a range of plants.

D3BC 11: Garden Centre: Planting and Aftercare
This unit explores the different plant groups and their particular planting and maintenance needs. It includes; trees, shrubs, annuals, herbaceous, climbers, water plants, alpines, turf, vegetables etc.

D3BD 11: Garden Centre: Plant Protection, Nutrition and Care
Familiarises the candidate with the concepts of plant protection, plant nutrition, soil types and growing media.

D3BF 11: Garden Centre: Tools, Equipment and Sundries
Introduces the candidate to a wide range of hard and dry goods, including tools, equipment, glasshouses, irrigation, containers, hard landscape materials.

Entry requirements

Candidates MUST be employed within the Garden Centre Industry

Progression

Possible progression to HTA Plantcare Award

Additional information

Delivered in four separate blocks, of one- week duration, at times of least inconvenience to employers. Accommodation in the college residences is available where daily travel is not practicable. The programme may be accessed on a ‘roll on, roll off’ basis.

Start date

Mid November each year

Finish date

Early February each year

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