Horticulture - Level 2 Practical Horticulture

Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of designing, preparing, planting and growing from seed and cuttings. Horticulturists work in a variety of outdoor settings and their use creativity and knowledge in a range of specialisms such as nursery production, garden centres, landscaping gardening, crop production and public and heritage gardens. It has recently been reported that there is a shortage of workers with skills in horticulture sector.

Future Career and Earning Potentials:

Horticultural Worker £13K-£30K

Horticultural Manager £18K-£40K

Garden Nursery Assistant £13K-£19K

Gardener £16K-25K

(Source: National Careers Service)

For the equivalent of two days a week you will be working on the practical elements of the course where you will learn by building skills and professional techniques and knowledge working on developing and maintaining college grounds. You will be required to work as a team and develop your own personal skills as well as gain an understanding of background theory that you can put into practice. You will also develop your skills in maths and English delivered by specialist staff.

There will also be an opportunity to complete a period of work experience.

This study programme will cover a range of the topics and units at each level, some of which are listed below:

• How to prepare new ground for planting
• Improving soil structure and quality
• Planting container grown and bare root plants and trees
• How to care for a planted area or border
• Create containers for seasonal display
• Grow fruit and vegetables
• Propagate plants by seed indoors and directly outside
• Know how to make new plants by different types of cuttings
• Propagate new plants by grafting
• Create and work independently on your own garden projects
• Design a garden and produce a plan
• Use garden power tools safely

Theory assessment will be short-answer questions and there will be observed practical assessments.

5 GCSEs at Grade 9-3.

OR

Level 1 Horticulture qualification.