Module 1

Gardening Basics
Module 1: Gardening Basics
Soil type, soil evaluation & soil improvement: learn about the different types of natural soil and
additional plant mixers which can be used to stimulate plant growth.

Garden planning & preparation: Understand the importance of initial planning on paper, before
beginning the practical aspects of gardening.

Plant planning & purchase tips: Determine plant types and their uses, discover plant purchasing
techniques.

Maintenance-Soil Nourishment & Watering: Learn the different materials essential for the nourishment
of soil to facilitate growing and maintenance of healthy plants.

Revisit the Module

 In this module you will learn:
In this module you will learn the basics of gardening, from planning to
maintenance, which will enable you to evaluate, plan, purchase, plant, and
maintain a garden to suit the natural environment and garden characteristics.
 Soil type, soil evaluation and soil improvement: learn about the different types of natural
soil and additional plant mixers which can be used to stimulate plant growth.
 Garden planning and preparation: Understand the importance of initial planning on
paper, before beginning the practical aspects of gardening.
 Plant planning and purchase tips: Determine plant types and their uses, discover plant
purchasing techniques.
 Maintenance-soil nourishment & watering: Learn the different materials essential for the
nourishment of soil to facilitate growing and maintenance of healthy plants.
 Pest and disease defense/Gardening tools: Be familiar with required gardening tools and
learn about the prevention, detection and treatment of potential dangers, such as pests and
disease in plants.

Welcome to your Garden

Design Diploma course
Before you begin the course, please read these important notes.

Modules
The course is broken down into 29 modules. Each information packed module
lasts between 15 and 60 minutes, but you are free to spend as long as you
like on each module. Once you have finished the module, click the “continue
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Some of the modules contain self-assessed assignments/tasks. The tasks are
set at the end of the module. Most of the assignments should take around 30
minutes to complete, again, you are free to spend as much time as you need
on them. The assignments are self-assessed; you do not need to send them
in to us. You will find the answers/our suggestions attached.

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differently to the majority of the rest of the text. For an explanation of each,
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In addition to the course modules, we have provided you with some extra
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heading. We will be looking to constantly add to these articles, so please
check back in often to see the latest articles.

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You can revisit modules that you have completed at any time, even after you
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be able to select any module that you have already completed.

End of Course Test

At the end of each module, there is a 5 question test. Each question has
multiple choice answers and you will have 3 options to choose from, one of
them is correct. In order to pass the test you need to answer at least 4
correctly.

At the end of the course, there will be a further 50 question test that will test
you on the knowledge that you have gained throughout the course. The pass
mark for this is 70% (35/50).

Don’t panic if you don’t pass any of the tests the first time. You can take the
test as many times as you need. If you do not pass on the first occasion we
recommend that you go back over the modules that you did not fare so well at
and study them again.

Completion of the Course

Once you have successfully completed the end of course test, you will be
awarded your certification. You can download and print your certificate
anytime you want. Simply log in to your account and visit this
page: http://newskillsacademy.co.uk/my-account/download-your-certificate/

If you would prefer us to send you a hard copy of your certificate by mail, we
can do so for a small charge of £10 within the UK (slightly more for
international orders). You can order a copy of your certificate from
here: http://newskillsacademy.co.uk/certificate-location/

What you can do once you have completed the course

Once you have completed the course you will have a great understanding of
what is needed to be a garden designer. Before branching out and starting
your own business, it would be advisable to get some practical experience in
the field. This can be via voluntary positions or working for someone else. The
more experience you have within an industry the better, before you make a
significant investment of both your time and money into a business, however,
there is nothing to stop you starting right now.

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If you need any assistance we are here to help you. Simply click one of the
support tabs (located at the top and bottom of all pages on this site) and one
of our support staff will get back to you as soon as possible. Please note,
support hours are 9:00 – 17:30 Monday – Friday (we have a limited support
outside of these hours and your inquiry may take longer to respond to).

Let’s Get Going

We hope you enjoy your course and wish you the best of luck with your future
career.

You can now begin your course. The first module starts immediately below.

1.1: Gardening Basics

Before deciding what to grow in a garden you must first determine the
conditions you have to work with.

Once you assess the soil, irrigation and other factors, you can then choose
plants, shrubs and flowers that are best suited to the environment, saving you
time, effort and cost.
 In addition to the type of soil, it is important to take into consideration
drainage, the amount of light the garden receives, the weather conditions, for
example, is the site sheltered, sunny or particularly cold?

Each garden has its own unique qualities and characteristics, which work
together to determine the type of plants that will grow successfully. The basic
premise of good gardening is the ability to understand each garden’s
distinctive conditions.

The important factors to take into consideration during an

initial garden assessment are:

 Type of soil
 Moisture content
 Climate conditions
 Amount of light
 Wind type
 Suitable plant options for these conditions.

1.2: Soil Evaluation

Soil consists of organic matter, clay, sand and silt.

The soil provides a home for the roots of each plant to source much-
needed nutrients and water. There are two layers of soil, the top soil
and the deeper layer of natural earth below. Once you dig down one
or two feet into the visible top layer, you will discover either clay,
 sandy or a chalky layer. The differences are important to note; clay
subsoil is prone to water logging, and sandy or chalky subsoil layers
can dehydrate in summer months.

The first step is to carry out a soil evaluation which provides you
with essential analysis so you know what is required to improve it.

The Different Types of Soils:

 Clay
 Peat
 Chalk
 Sand
 Silt
 Loam

1.3: Soil Improvement

As most soils do not provide an ideal fertile base for sowing, it is one of
the most important tasks within gardening – to create healthy fruitful
soil, namely rich in nutrients and organic matter with good draining in
place.

This is achieved by adding organic materials such as rotten leaves, peat

moss, organic compost, and improving the drainage.
 You can improve all types of soil by creating a custom blend, perfect for
growing.

The following potting mixes are used:

 All-Purpose: Peat moss, vermiculite and composted bark. This is effective for the
majority of plants.
 Cacti and Succulent: Sand, perlite and potting soil mixed equally provide adequate
drainage.
 Premium: Perlite, composted manure, vermiculite and peat moss are excellent for all
soils.

1.4: Garden Preparation and

Planning

This is a crucial aspect of successful gardening and requires

quite a lot of work.

The soil must be prepared and cultivated to lay a solid, fertile

foundation. This loosening of soil becomes easier once carried out
annually before planting, as you systemically alter the soil
organically.
Work with the soil when it is damp or dry, but never when wet. It is important to take care not to
compact the soil by walking on the beds.

Before planting a single bulb or seed, ensure that you have created
an adequate plan on paper. Determine the size of the area to be
 planted and the amount of plants required. Investigate which plants
work best with the natural soil, drainage, available sun and shade in
the garden, and plan accordingly.
Group plants together which have similar requirements of light, soil and water.

1.5: Plant Purchase

To avoid disappointment follow these steps when
purchasing plants for your projects

 Choosing healthy plants before you set them gives the garden a greater chance of
success. Choose healthy, vigorous plants which have multiple buds rather than flowers already
in bloom.
 Know the difference life spans of the plants.
 Check the soil of the plant and under the leaves for signs of insects.
 Leave behind any plants which show signs of withering, diseased leaves or appear
soggy.
 Read the plant labels; it will indicate the plant’s requirements for thriving and the size it
will grow to. If tags are not visible, ask sales staff to provide a background.
 Know the hardiness level of your plant and suit it to the climate and garden conditions.
 Examine the roots of each plant; choose those with pale, smooth, untangled roots which
are not growing out the bottom of the plant pot.
 Think about the color plan for the garden before choosing plants; using a single color
palette works very well. Decide on the various leaf tones which you may mix in with the given
green.
 1.6: Plant Types

Become familiar with the various types of

plants; learn their behavior and what they can offer each
garden.

Trees and shrubs create a garden backdrop for flowers. Choose pest
& disease resistant, high weather-tolerant plants.

 Annuals: Live for single growing season, flowering or foliage only

 Bulbs: Choose cold-hardy bulbs in autumn for flowers in spring
 Perennials: Form the foundation of beds, filling it with a variety of color, shape, texture
and fragrance
 Climbers/Vines: Cover walls and fences with foliage and flowers, annual or perennial
 Grass: Choose varying blends of grass types to suit climate and light conditions
 Trees: Offering magnificence, beauty, shade and shelter
 1.7: Essential Watering

All plants need water to live and thrive; with the amount dependent on
climate, soil quality age and type, and the size of the plant.

Most garden bed plants require an average of an inch of rain or equivalent

supplement weekly, whereas potted plants require daily watering especially in
hot weather. Once planted water should be given immediately. Infrequent
deep watering is better than regular sprinklings; the best time is the morning
as it reduces evaporation.

To collect and conserve water use a rain barrel, soaker hoses or drip irrigation
systems. The use of mulch is also excellent for water conservation.

1.8: Soil Nourishment

 Organic matter provides great nourishment for the soil; add rotten manure, vegetable
cuttings and compost assisting it to remain moist.
 Soil provides essential nutrients to the plants; using fertilizer replenishes minerals which
may not be adequately provided.
 Create a compost pile in your garden where the elements can reach and improve it, and
use to improve soil quality without cost.
 Mulch, made from leaves, compost and other organic matter conserves moisture in the
soil. It prevents weeds and plant erosion. It offers protection from the elements, and attracts
nature’s very own soil builders – the earthworm.
1.9: Gardening Tools

You will need to familiarize yourself with the wide array of garden tools
and machinery available to make your job as a gardener easier and more
efficient.

These include sturdy shovel, hand trowel, garden fork, efficient cutters and
pruners.

1.10: Pest and Disease

Defense

Regular checking identifies potential problems.

Know the symptoms of each disease and pest so you can treat it
correctly. Problems can be caused by age, size, location, care, soil
and weather; be familiar with symptoms and signs. Use the least
toxic solution first; make a homemade pest repellent and use
regularly.

Keep your garden tidy and allow space between plants for sufficient
air. Remove young weeds before they become a problem. Use
mulch to keep them at bay.
Be proactive against garden pests with a mixture of repellent and
barriers; such as fencing, wire wrap or tree wrap.

1.11: Who are your

Customers?

For any business to be successful it is important

that it has paying customers.

Without paying customers your business is unlikely to succeed. You also need
enough paying customers to make your business pay for itself and then some
more, so that you, as the owner, have enough to meet your needs financially.
In order to gain enough customers you first need to identify your customers,
and then give them a reason to pay you, instead of someone else, to work on
their garden.

Importance of Identifying Your Customers

 To be successful in marketing your services it is extremely important that you
design your marketing strategy in such a way as to target those people who
will be your potential clients.

It is no use trying to market your product to a client who does not have a
garden or has a small garden that he or she can manage on their own. In
order to successfully find clients for your business you need to first identify the
people who would need your service, study why they would hire you, and then
look at ways that you can convince them to hire you. If you do not know who
your clients are you will never be able to present yourself to them effectively.

The success or failure of your business will depend entirely upon you knowing
your clients, what they need, and how you can provide for their needs so they
are completely satisfied with your work and will continue to give you their
business.

Types of Clients
There can be several types of clients that may want the services of a
professional gardener.

These are:

 Individual house owners with gardens – These are people who have a garden that is
either too large for them to maintain themselves, or they do not have the time to maintain a
garden, or want a professional to look after their garden as they do not have much knowledge of
gardening.
 Communities and public spaces– Housing communities, schools, clubs and other such
places have gardens and need gardeners to look after them. Some of these communities have
their own in-house gardeners, but most just give contracts to gardening services to maintain
their gardens.
 Other gardening service providers, landscapers, architects and gardeners – These are
people who are professionals on their own, but may need assistance from time to time and may
be looking for someone to whom they can sub-contract their work.

Identifying Your Customers

Now that you know what kind of clients are out there it is up to you to decide
which segment of the customers you are going to target.

The first thing to do while identifying the client base is to first identify the
geography and demography of the area of your business. Once you have the
area demarcated, then you can begin to study the area to see what kind of
people live in the area.

When starting a professional gardening service, the first thing to look for is the
amount or percentage of garden space that is available in the area you have
chosen. If you have chosen an area of small lots and houses, these areas are
unlikely to have gardens, and if they do, then are not likely to need gardening
service as the plots are small and the owners can take care of their gardens.
Pick out an area which has community spaces and larger plots or gardens.

Next, look at the demographics of the people who live in your work area.
People who do not have much time, have dispensable income or are retired,
old or handicapped will need gardening services. You have to understand the
mindset of the people and their needs, and then decide which market
segment you wish to target your marketing strategy.

Housing communities can be good customers, as housing societies and

communities will have gardens that require garden maintenance. Sometimes
the garden contracts may be handled by a property management company,
but often residents make their own management committee that looks to hire
local gardeners.

Other public spaces like hotels, clubs, schools, colleges, hospitals, and office
blocks also have gardens that need to be maintained. Often the contracts are
too small for the bigger players, but can be lucrative for a local tradesman like
yourself.

Another source of clients could be other professionals who are in the

gardening service or a related service that would need a gardener. Many
times, contractors take on more work than they can handle and need
 someone to help them out. These other contractors could be potential clients
for you.

People who are in the landscaping business also need gardeners to work with
them or for them. Same for architects who need landscape artists and
gardeners for larger projects.

Estate and letting agents also require gardening services to look after the
gardens of the properties under their care.

Here is a list of people and services that look for local gardeners.

You can explore the list to see which of these suit your
niche:

 Local councils
 Large properties with private roads
 Busy families with large gardens
 Retirees
 Old age homes
 Houses with large gardens
 Vacation and rental properties
 Property management services
 Estate agents
 Housing associations
 Care homes
 Commercial grounds

Find Your Niche

It is important for you to identify not only your clients, but the type of clients
you would want to work for.

Some gardeners prefer to work on larger gardens, taking on a few only to

work on. Some others like to work on smaller gardens and take on a number
of them to make a living. Some others like to work with only public spaces and
take larger contracts. Some specialize in vacation rentals and estate agents.

You need to find where you wish to fit in. Whether you would like to work with
individuals, or with management agents or committees – this decision is
entirely yours.

1.12: A Typical Day for a

Gardener

You are in the gardening business

presumably because you like the outdoors, nature, and
working with nature to create a beautiful and useful garden
area.

If you do not like to have the sun on your back or see the birds and
the flowers, then you need to rethink your business. A typical
gardener’s day is busy and full, attending to various chores around a
garden. From checking to picking, there is much work involved in
keeping a garden looking good and productive.

Below is a summary of what a regular day may look like. It is worth

considering that the type of work you do on an average day will vary
according to your customers’ needs, the season, the weather and
any niche that you have chosen to specialize in.
 Starting the Day
A gardener’s ordinary work day starts early in the morning; typically
before the sun is too strong.

The first thing to do in the morning is to see what has happened

overnight. Nocturnal visitors can wreak havoc to your garden, so it is
best to look for them early in the morning to try and catch the
culprit as early as possible. Walk around the garden to look for any
plants that have been eaten or destroyed, and look for the bugs or
animals that did it.

Cutworm can eat away your seedlings and need to be dealt with as
soon as possible. If you find any seedlings cut just above the level of
the ground, then it is the work of the cutworm. If a lot of your plants
have been eaten then you could be dealing with a porcupine or deer
– which means that your fence has been breached.

Here is a list of things you need to check in the morning:

 Look for signs of any night time visitors to your garden. If you find any take measures to
deal with them as soon as possible
 Check that your fencing is in good order and has not been breached.
 Look for aphids and other bugs that could destroy your garden, arrange to deal with
them as soon as possible.
 Check your seeding and potting area to see if there are any plants that are ready to be
sown into the ground.
 If you have seeds to plant, this is the time to do it – before it gets too hot.
 Check the pots for moisture. If watering is required, start off with it at once.
While you are watering look for areas that need attention and plan
your day in dealing with these areas.

A gardener in charge of a large garden may have a team of

gardeners – the early morning hours are spent with the team,
looking over the work that was done the day before and what now
needs to be done; the work is then allocated accordingly. The
 gardener then makes sure that the garden is clean and tidy with
everything is looking good.

Tasks for Mid-morning

With the sun getting hotter, it is now time to get down to the dirtier
work. This is the time when the planting, weeding and clearing takes
place. The early morning checking tour comes into use now. You
need to spray organic bug spray to take care of the bugs. Repair the
fence and clean up the garden. Take care of the pruning and
weeding. Collect the weeds for composting, and make sure that the
new plants are not stressed with too much sun.

This is also the time to take stock of what you can harvest from the
garden for the day. If there is a vegetable garden, look to see if
there are any vegetables that you can take with you for meal
preparation; such as salad leaves, ripe tomatoes, zucchini, beans,
etc.

Here is what you do in the Mid-morning:

 Do all the maintenance work required in the garden

 Take care of composting and fertilizing.

Afternoon Rest
Most gardeners prefer to spend the afternoons taking care of indoor
jobs.

These would include the administrative side of being a gardener.

This is the time to check your mail, catch up with your phone calls,
set up meetings with clients or managers, and finish your
paperwork. Work on your future plans for your client’s gardens.
Order supplies or pick up supplies. You can do all these tasks in the
afternoon post lunch when it is too hot to work outside.
 Here is what you do in the afternoon:

 Take care of administrative needs

 Check mail
 Do the paperwork
 Plan for future projects
 Order supplies
 Make your calls
 Set up meetings
 Meet with clients and business associates.

Late Afternoon Tasks

After lunch it is time to get back into the garden and do some work.

If the lawn needs mowing or the hedge needs trimming, you can
start it now. This is also the time to start preparing for the night.
Check the garden again so that everything is in order. The seedlings
are back indoors. This is also the time to see if the garden requires
watering. If it does then turn on the sprinklers or the drip irrigation
system. Your day is now coming to a close.

Take one last walk around to ensure that the fence is not breached,
the gates are closed and your garden is safe for the night.

Here is what you need to do post tea or early evening:

 Mowing and trimming

 Prepare the garden for the night
 Check the fence and gate
 Set up sprinklers and drip irrigation systems to water the garden overnight.
This is a typical day you can expect in a garden that is well looked
after and maintained regularly.
The routine may not be so tame if you are starting off with an
overgrown and ill-maintained garden.

You may have more time on hand during the winter months when
the garden is in hibernation. Spring time will mean a lot of clearing,
digging, fertilizing and planting, and can be a very busy time of the
year. During summer you may find that you have to work hard to
keep the weeds at bay, and the lawn trimmed and tidy. Shrubs and
hedges may need constant attention. Autumn you may again find
yourself busy bringing in the harvest from your vegetable garden,
clearing away dead plants, and gathering seeds, bulbs and rhizomes
for the next season. You will find out more about exactly which tasks
should be done during each season in section 1.13 below.
A good gardener will always get up early to enjoy the garden at its best and start work on it as
early as possible.

1.13: Month by Month Jobs in

the Garden

Gardening is a year-round job, with the nature of

work varying with the changing seasons and from one month to another.

There are many tasks to do around the garden throughout the year. As a
professional gardener you will have to deal with gardens that have a variety of
plants, features and trees, and each of these will need to be worked upon
differently. We will take a look at the month by month jobs that need to be
done around the garden.

January
January is a month when you can expect cold wind, storms, ice, snow and
heavy rain. You need to protect your garden from weather and wind damage.
This is the time to check the plants that need support or protection from cold
and frost.

Make sure that the supports are strong, that all the ties will hold, and the
fleece covers are in place. If there are plants in a very exposed place,
consider moving them to a safer area with plenty of light. Take care of the
lawn edges and repair patches.

Rake up all dead leaves and vegetation matter, adding it to your compost
heap. Add mulch to protect your plants and prevent weeds. Make sure that
the greenhouse is warm, and ventilate on sunny days. Prune your plants and
shrubs. Start planning your vegetable garden, and order seeds that you may
want to plant for summer.

Break the ice on the pond so that the plants and fish can breathe. Leave out
food and water for birds.

February
Keep a look out for clear, sunny days to look over your garden.

If the ground is not too mushy, this is a good time to turn over the soil. Take
care of your compost heap. Take care of any other tasks that are left over
from January. Order seeds for sowing if not already done. Get your potato
seeds and start chitting them.

Clean the garden of any debris, and remove dead flowers and stalks from the
plants and shrubs. Start planting roses if these are required. You can also
start planting onions, garlic and shallots. Maintain food and water for birds,
and also start putting out nesting boxes.

Fertilize all fruit trees and plants with potash.

March
Now is the time to start mowing the lawn and feed it with a high-nitrogen
fertilizer.

Lay turf and repair patches. Start to feed your houseplants but do not water
them too much. Divide your perennials and add fresh compost to the planters.
Now plant any hedges, rose or shrubs and trees.

Look for slugs and protect your plants from them. Prepare the seed beds, sow
early seeds of chilies, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and eggplant. Cut back
any winter plants that are left over. Deal with weeds as they start growing.

Remove the heater from the pond and start feeding the fish.

Air out the greenhouse on warm sunny days. Plant summer bulbs. Take care
of slugs before they destroy your plants. Put food out for birds, clean the
birdbaths and fill with water. Put in some wild flowers for the insects and the
bees. Dig a wildlife pool.

April
The spring is in and the flowers and trees are in bloom. Keep weeds under
control by weeding regularly.

Mow the lawn and repair any bare patches. Create a gutter area around the
borders of the lawn and sow new lawn. Protect fruit blossoms from any frost.
Take care of climbers and vines now. Sow the summer seeds into the ground.
Put in herb seeds. Fertilize the citrus trees, shrubs and roses. Put mulch
around the shrubs and trees. Prune any shrubs that have finished flowering.
Start putting your seedlings into the ground. Water houseplants well. Plant
and divide water lilies in the pond. Plant the potatoes, prepare vegetable beds
and sow more seeds. Sow zucchini and marrows.

Keep feeding the birds, put up nesting boxes if you have not done so already.
Keep bird baths clean and topped up with water. Sow wild flowers.

May
Summer is on its way. The bulbs have flowered and the herbs are doing well.
This is the time to start sowing and planting out in beds.

It is also time for planting softwood cutting. Keep an eye out for late frost.

Continue weeding regularly. Air out the greenhouse on warm days. Keep a
weekly schedule to mow lawns. Take out and divide the spring flower bulbs.
Use weed and moss killer to keep these at bay. Use liquid fertilizer for your
house plants. Use blinds on the greenhouse to prevent it from getting too hot
on sunny days. Add mulch around shrubs and trees. Feed the plants in
containers and make sure they are properly watered.

Check for any infections and infestations in your plants. If there are any, then
deal with it as soon as possible.

Sow all the vegetables you have planned for summer. Provide food and
shelter for migratory birds. Put in nesting boxes, and delay trimming the
hedges for a bit. Put plants around your pond, and create a shallow shelf for
wildlife.

June
Maintain the weekly lawn mowing schedule. Add the cuttings to your compost
heap. Keep the lawn moist. Feed the lawn with a high nitrogen liquid fertilizer.
Keep the borders trimmed and clean, keep weeding (apply a weed killer if
needed), and stake tall plants.

Use blinds in the greenhouse to prevent it getting too hot and scorching the
plants. Stock up the pond with new fish. Increase watering of the house
plants.

Repot plants that need re-potting. Plant out the summer beds. Prune plants
and shrubs that have flowered. Add mulch around shrubs and trees, if not
already done so. Dead-head plants.

Check for diseases and infestation on the plants. Deal with black spots, aphid
and fungus as soon as possible. Sow your summer vegetables. Avoid using
pesticides on vegetables when the plants are in flower. Take care of the
plants and vegetable and keep an eye out for bugs.

Look out for slugs. Use slug pellets to keep the population down.

July
This is generally the hottest month of the year. Now you can enjoy the flowers
a bit longer if you constantly deadhead them.

This is the time to plant out any bulbs that you still have in the conservatory.
Regularly water any plants that are in pots and containers. Clear any algae,
weeds or debris that might have built up in the pond. Paint the woodwork in
your garden.

Keep mowing the lawn regularly. Feed the lawn for the final time in the year.
Keep any newly sown lawn well watered. Deal with weeds. Move houseplants
out onto the patio – it is good for them – water and feed the plants as needed.

Check for insect infestations or diseases. Start collecting seeds. Keep planting
any seedlings that are big enough to be handled. Harden off annuals to
acclimatize them. Use shade paint or blinds in the greenhouse to prevent
excessive heat build-up.
Sow your beans now if you have not done so already, as this may be your last
chance.

Put in your autumn or winter salads, and other crops including carrots, turnip
fennel, etc. Check for infestations and deal with it. Keep bird baths clean and
filled with water. Plant marigolds around vegetable patches.

August
Mow lawn as per schedule and water regularly.

Check plants for any infestation or disease. Water planters and potted plants,
and apply liquid fertilizer. Start collecting seeds for planting next year. Trim the
hedges for the final time. Prune climbing roses, check for black spots on
roses. Sow quick growing crops.

Harvest your vegetables. Look for potato and tomato blight. Continue to weed
and water your vegetables. Keep the ponds and birdbaths topped with water.
Allow plants to start seeding, you can use these seeds for the next season.

September
Feed your lawn for the winter. Mow it and add the cuttings to the compost
heap.

Houseplants will now not need much watering. You can also bring them back
inside from the patio. Water and feed all potted plants. Plant bulbs that flower
in spring. Take cuttings from plants and start them off.

Collect seeds, cut back perennials to prevent them from breaking,  and lift the
tubers of canna and dahlias after the leaves have started turning black.
Ventilate the greenhouse and start cleaning it for autumn.
Prune the fruit trees after harvesting. Cut back blackberries and raspberry
canes, dig up the potatoes that are remaining, harvest the crops from your
vegetable garden. Keep the water topped up in the bird bath and pond.

October
Autumn is here. Trees are changing color and shedding leaves. This is the
time for raking and clearing up the leaves.

Clear up all the perennials that have started dying down. Divide the plants that
require dividing. Move all delicate plants including the aquatic plants indoors
into the greenhouse. Harvest the last of your fruits. Mow the lawn and trim the
hedges. Take care of all the work left to be done on the lawn.

Reduce watering of houseplants and plants in the containers and pots. Take
hardwood cuttings for new plants. Remove shade paint or blinds from the
greenhouse. Check that the heaters are working.

Check for infestations and diseases on the various plants. Plant cabbage,
garlic. Bring in the last of the harvest.

November
The trees are shedding leaves which means you will be spending most of your
time raking and leaf blowing.

Add the collected dead leaves to the compost heap. Plant tulips for spring.
Prune roses and plant winter beds. Reduce watering of houseplants and
plants in container and pots. Be careful to prevent water logging in pots.

Prune any shrubs and roses. Check that plants are protected from cold and
frost. Check the ties and stakes. Plant new roses if you have any to plant. Dig
any new flower beds, so that the soil is ready for planting in spring.
Clean and prepare the greenhouse for winter. Put in any remaining winter
crops. Dig empty areas and add organic fertilizer, to be ready for sowing in the
spring. Harvest any remaining crops. Leave seed heads and rose hips for
birds. Put food and water out for birds. Start planning your garden for the next
year. Order seed catalogs.

December
Winter is now truly set in and you can expect frost and rain. You do not want
to be working out in the winter and thankfully there is not much to do.
However, do check on your plants and garden to ensure that the winter
protection is secure, and check that the heaters in the greenhouse are
working and that the greenhouse is sufficiently warm for your exotic plants to
survive the winter.

Ensure that the pond does not freeze over. Finish all pruning before
Christmas. Grass will continue to grow, but you can cease mowing for the
next few weeks. Reduce the watering of potted and house plants. If the trees
are still shedding, remove the fallen leaves and add to the compost heap.

Check on your vegetable garden and stake any floppy or leggy plants. Leave
food and water out for birds. Make sure the bird bath does not ice over. After a
heavy snowfall, ensure that you remove snow from the trees. If there is too
much snow on the trees, the weight of the snow might cause them to break.

A gardener’s year is divided into the following phases: Spring is for sowing,
summer for growing, autumn for cleaning and harvesting, and winter for
resting and planning.

Module Summary
In this module you have learned the basics of gardening, of
evaluating the soil and the requirements to ensure it can provide
the essential nutrients for plants to flourish.
You are now aware of the importance of planning a garden before
setting a single seed so you can determine what is required for soil
improvement and drainage before choosing the plants. You can be
confident about purchasing the correct, healthy plants for sowing
and have the knowledge to maintain the growth and health of the
plants by use of compost, fertilizers and mulch.

With the insight to choose the right garden tools and be familiar with
pest and disease control, you are ready to go deeper into the
modules of this Garden Design & Maintenance Diploma Course.