Sneak Peek
Learn how to prune plants, shrubs and trees!
Pruning is an essential skill required by gardeners and horticulturalists. There are many different reasons to prune, and there are many different ways to approach pruning. Pruning benefits some plants immensely. Other plants, however, may be negatively affected by pruning.
This short course explains how plant growth and pruning are intertwined. It provides instruction on how to prune a range of ornamental plants as well as important fruit species. Students will learn how to assess the pruning needs of plants and learn about good pruning practices. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to encourage fruiting and flowering, how to create topiary and espaliers, and how to make bonsai. Upon completion you will feel confident in your knowledge of how and when to prune all sorts of plants.
COOURSE CONTENT
There are nine lessons as follows:
Lesson 1: Introduction
- Why, when and what to prune: How pruning affects plants
- Removing broken branches, dead or diseased wood
- Controlling the type of growth
- Controlling the plant’s shape and size
- Promoting healthy, bushy growth
- Rejuvenating a plant
- Why prune?
- Pruning different species
- Timing for pruning
- What is compartmentalisation?
Lesson 2: Types of Pruning
- Cleaning out dead wood
- Stopping
- Disbudding
- Deadheading
- Pollarding
- Removing branches
- Crown cleaning
- Crown thinning
- Crown reduction
- Crown lifting
- Crown renewal
- Root pruning
- Pruning trees in general
- Pruning larger shrubs
- Pruning tropical plants
- Pruning container plants
Lesson 3: Pruning Tools and Equipment
- Secateurs
- Pruning knife
- Loppers
- Pole pruners
- Hand saws
- Trimmers
- Chainsaws
- Gloves
Lesson 4: Pruning Hedges
- Selecting hedging plants
- Establishing a hedge
- Types of hedge
- Pruning or trimming an established hedge
- Rejuvenating old and overgrown hedges
- Pruning conifers
- Other hedging techniques
- Pleaching
- Tapestry hedges
- Mazes
Lesson 5: Shaping Plants
- How to develop an espalier
- Horizontal espalier
- Oblique palmette espalier
- Topiary
- Portable topiary
- Other plants suitable for topiary
- Single-stem topiary
- Verdant sculptures
- Bonsai
- Creating bonsai
- Pruning bonsai to shape it
Lesson 6: Managing Prunings
- Composting waste
- Choosing plants for composting
- Using compost to improve soils
- Composting in home gardens
- Indore method
- Using lawn clippings
- Mulching
- How to lay mulch
- Biochar
- Chipping
Lesson 7: Pruning for Fruit Production
- Before buying plants consider the shape
- Before pruning
- Points to consider when pruning
- Pruning specific fruits
- Citrus spp.
- Pruning a bush shape
- Pruning a standard shape
- Renovating an old citrus tree
- Open vase shape formative pruning
- Plum tree pruning
- Pruning apricots
- Knowing your buds
Lesson 8: Pruning Roses
- When to prune roses
- Pruning techniques for different types of roses
- Pruning climbers and ramblers at a glance
- Pruning roses as standards
- Dead heading roses
- Rejuvenating an old rose plant
Lesson 9: Compendium of Plants - How to Prune What and When
- Summary: Basic pruning guide
- Glossary
Pruning is a skill that every gardener needs to master - from home gardener to tradesman to professional.
There are thousands of different plants and every species needs to be pruned differently -depending upon the location and situation it grows in. All too often, plants are pruned poorly, leaving them unsightly and unhealthy. Bad pruning can destroy the health and aesthetics of a garden; but good pruning can enhance it.
How does this course work?
You can enrol at any time.
Once you have paid for the course, you will be able to start straight away.
Study when and where you like. Work through at your own pace.
You can download your study-guide to your smart phone, tablet or laptop to read offline.
There are automated self-assessment tests you can complete at the end
of each lesson. You can attempt these as many times as you wish and
each time, upon completion, you can see your results. You will need
internet access to complete the self assessment tests.
At the end of the course, you are presented with a large assessment
which can be attempted online, anywhere, anytime. If you achieve a 60%
pass in the exam; you immediately receive a downloadable certificate of
completion with your name on it.
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